Freshman year of college: meeting new people and friends, sports events and school activities, roommates, parties, all nighters, and junk food. These are all things that I have experienced my first year of college, and are all things that have changed my overall outlook on life, and my future. The past four months that I have spent at CSU Monterey Bay, have definitely been an eye opener, in some ways better than others. When I began the first semester here at college, I was ready for a change of pace, and a new beginning. I was ready to let go of my high school years, my old friends, and my old life. However, along this journey so far, I realized that moving on creates room for new memories, and holds tight to the bittersweet memories of the past that will always be missed. Many activities and events have lead me to believe that CSUMB has changed my life. From classes, school activities, and the dining commons, to roommates, new friends, and a love life, I have realized a lot of things, and learned a lot of lessons. This I think is because of the school that I am attending. CSUMB has proven to be a school with great vision and core values through the experiences that I have been through and the things that I have learned thanks to CSUMB.
My first class of the entire semester was FYS, or First Year Seminar. I didn’t know what to expect going into this class, seeing as it was my first college class that I had ever attended. The first day was very informative, and helped me to better understand what exactly this school was about, and how it worked. Throughout the class everything that I may have been confused about was addressed, including my undergraduate 2 year plan, which I would have had no idea that it needed to be done without FYS. All of my classes this semester helped me to further my education in some way, whether it was becoming a better writer through my English class, or becoming a better swimmer through my Water Aerobics class.
The school activities that CSUMB has to offer are very diverse, and most very interesting and fun. From the very first day, there were activities all over campus, from ice cream socials, to barbecues, and even dances, there was plenty to do. All semester there have been advertisements floating around of different night clubs to go to, and movie nights with popular films that were being shown. My friends and I, even though people I hadn’t known very long, went to these events together, and it helped me to get involved in the school, and form friendships with the people I was going with. One event that I went to recently was the Tacky Sweater party, which was held in the Student Center. This was a fun event to attend with my friends because we were all able to be a little bit silly, dress up, and enjoy ourselves.
The Dining Commons here at CSUMB have proven to be deadly. Don’t get me wrong, the food is great, but I have learned my lesson well about the “Freshman Fifteen.” The story goes, “From all that partyin’ that you young kinds are doin’, and all that beer that you been drinkin’ is gonna make you gain fifteen damn pounds!” However, in my experience, the extra pounds that is being put on comes not from the booze, but straight from the food intake. Sure, there are some healthy choices at the dining commons. But in order to get back to the healthy section, you have to pass by the juicy burgers, the greasy pizza, and the always satisfying taqueria! For me, this was a lesson well learned, to know and to follow the diet that my mom always told me, no junk food!
One thing that I really wanted to do upon attending college was live in the dorms. This was because I knew that living in the dorms was the way to get involved and to meet people. I got put on the waiting list for on campus housing, but soon got in. However, I was stuck in the Substance Free Hall. My roommate situation turned out to be a disaster. About 3 months into the semester, I got a room transfer, and now I am living with two roommates, and from that have made two really good friends. The situation that I was in before I got a room transfer definitely taught me to accept people, and treat them with respect, even if they are a complete opposite of who I am. This is something that plenty of people have to deal with, and something that I have learned quite well to do, especially now that I am in college.
Meeting people was one of the main reasons why I wanted to live on campus. And I have found out that there is always someone new to meet. I came into college wanting to meet people, and this semester I have done just that. I have opened myself up to other people so that they can see who I am, and so that I can make true friends. Coming here, and moving to a different city forces people to be put out of their comfort zone. How I look at it, is if I am not able to open myself up, and put myself out there, I will not get anywhere. I believe that the friends that I have made here, and the people I have met will continue to be in my life, because of who the way that I opened up, and the way that college opened my eyes to new people.
When I thought about attending college, there was rarely a thought that it would further anything but my education. But along the way, I realized that all this is a lesson, and it helps to better the life that is ahead of me, and therefor further my knowledge in reality. All of the little things that I have experienced in my days thus far at CSUMB have helped me to grow as a person. I have learned many things along the way, and have realized that college is not only about getting an education, but it’s also a boost for the rest of my life.
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