It’s time for the spring semester!

It’s the end of January, which means everyone is going back to college. I’ve been back on campus for almost a week now and it’s just been a very strange time on and off campus. So I decided to give some hopefully useful tips about this semester and share what I’m doing!

Right now the campus is empty and it’s so strange. A few days ago we welcomed our international students and did some orientation with them, so there aren’t many people there. Most people come back in two days and although it’s been nice quiet, I’m glad to be back. With the ongoing pandemic, one thing I’ve tried to do is be grateful for every day that I can be with other people, doing what I love. After so much time at home and taking classes online, you forget how wonderful it is to have a college experience. There are so many little things I missed and while I was here last semester it’s so good to be back. There is also always a chance that we may stop and return to remote learning, depending on COVID and state rules. It’s pretty much everyone’s worst fear, but I’m trying to make the most of the time I’m here because I know that could change at any time.

I was recently struck by the fact that my college experience is coming to an end and it is terrifying. I’ve written about this before, but it’s just not something I’m willing to fully think about just yet. This is just another reason why I’m trying to have as much fun as possible in the next three semesters because I want to have the top notch college experience. I know my experience is going to be different from what I expected, but I want to look back with joy. I try to dedicate my semester to doing new things, whether it’s different food, different places, different activities, anything to create new memories and change things. I think a lot of people are afraid that they’ll never be able to accomplish the college experience they wanted because of a thousand different factors, but mostly COVID and being sent home. It’s strange looking at my high school college grades and essays about what I wanted to do in college and how much that changed. I have started a new career path, but even that is not solidified yet. I applied to college wanting to be a lighting designer and now I’m working to become a playwright. Things have changed and I’m ok with that, but I understand how difficult it can be to accept change.

This semester, I hope we all find our places wherever we are. I know for me it was really hard to find where I was the first year here. It really took me time being in person to know where I fit in the theater department and in the school community. I really like having an idea of ​​where I belong and what I want to be. It took a lot of trial and error and it’s okay. I’ve tried a lot of different things, and I’ll probably try a bunch of other things before I leave here. I joined student government, worked in electrical, became a guidance leader, and so much more. There are definitely some things I liked more than others, but they all taught me something about myself. I’m so grateful for the experiences I’ve had over the past few years and can’t wait to see what this semester has in store for us!