My first quarter here at La Sierra University felt like a transitional phase. I met a bunch of new people and figured out how to manage my life all on my own. During my first quarter, I had to acclimatize to living by myself, I learned new study habits, and I perfected the skill of time management through trial and error… Overall, my first quarter was great! I made so many new friends, I loved all my classes, and ended the quarter off strong. Currently, I am already halfway done with my second quarter and feel like the “new college student” phase has worn off.
In all honesty, the start of my second quarter was rough. Unlike my first quarter, which was a breeze, my second quarter has been an uphill battle, but I’ve enjoyed every stressful second. I am currently taking the daunting Scientific Process class that every upperclassmen describes as “the hardest honors class ever”. Although it is difficult and requires an extensive amount of time, it is one of the most intriguing and helpful classes I am taking. Thanks to this class I’ll be able to perfect my lab reports and much more. I’ve also started taking more classes specific to my major and I couldn’t be more excited. Despite the intensive workload I’ve been faced with this quarter, I can’t help but feel excited for my future here at La Sierra and after La Sierra. It’s nice to have professors who are truly interested in my future and who will support me. I have also built an amazing support system of friends who I can rely on, and the dorm worships definitely help me get through my busy weeks. Now that I’ve spent more time on campus, I’ve been able to truly see the culture on campus and have grown more appreciative of my school and its diversity.
One thing I’ve realized this quarter is how fast time flies by. It feels like just yesterday I was taking my first few nervous steps onto this campus, but in reality, I have to start preparing for finals soon. The quick pace here at La Sierra is something that captivated me most about the school. It allows everyone here to take in every minute that goes by and urges us to make the most out of every moment–good or bad. I definitely feel more motivated now than ever to put in effort and do the best that I can both in school and outside of the classroom. I’ve encouraged myself to try new things and build more friendships with every opportunity that presents itself. I can’t wait to continue my journey here, one quarter at a time.
– Elissa Luna, Class of 2022