I have successfully made it to the end of my freshman year, and I can say with confidence that it exceeded all my expectations. Every student has some perception of what their college experience will entail but I don’t think you can ever be fully prepared for what is to come. I started my year focusing solely on academics. While I was lucky to be dragged out of my room by my involvement in student council, I would not take the initiative to interact with others on campus. As the year progressed, I was able to connect with more people and learn that there is another aspect to my college experience that I had not yet taken advantage of. This realization, and the change it brought, is what ultimately made my year enjoyable. Whenever I was overwhelmed by my responsibilities or in need of a last-minute favor, I knew there were people, friends, I could count on, and who could count on me. In addition to fostering connections with fellow students, I began to interact with my professors as well. There is a whole world of knowledge and advice that they can provide if simply asked. I don’t think I would have had the same experience on another campus. I am grateful to have chosen La Sierra University and to be involved in many programs such as the Honors Program.
I will sign off with a few things I have learned this year, advice for next year’s freshmen:
- The cafeteria food will get old. Learn to cook, even if in the microwave.
- If you’re smart you can find free food on campus nearly every day.
- Grades are important but don’t forget to have fun.
- The year goes by much more quickly than you might expect.
- Invest in relationships and network. You never know when a connection will be useful, and there are so many people with interesting stories.
- The Adventist world is very small; most likely, you will meet someone who knows you or your family in some way. This isn’t always a bad thing.
- Your experience is what you make of it, so be as positive as you can.
— Ariana Marquez, Freshman