Student Blog: Reflecting on My Freshman Year

As I've been packing up my dorm room and preparing for finals, it's been hitting me that by the end of this week, I will no longer be a freshman in college. I've been reflecting over the past year-the highest of highs, the lowest of lows-and I can't believe that it is really over. In the past nine months, I've done so much: I changed my major, visited so many incredible parts of Los Angeles, somehow became both a football and basketball fan (truly the most mind-blowing part), and met people that I know will be in my life forever.

I think a lot of people come into college with big expectations for their freshman year. I mean, why wouldn't they? It's supposed to be the ultimate coming of age, golden, best year of your life. Well, at least that's how it is in the movies. Personally, I did not really know what to expect from my freshman year. All I knew is that I wanted to make the absolute most of it and push myself outside of my comfort zone, which I can confidently say I did. I said yes to so many experiences and opportunities this year, from joining clubs to getting lunch to exploring the city, all of which have enriched my time so much. While not every interaction and experience necessarily filled me with complete and utter joy, I will never regret putting myself out there, nor would I go back and change a thing. Even those less-than-positive experiences, while painful in the moment, simply redirected me towards other paths I never would have otherwise considered going down. If anything, my regret is not jumping in sooner and with less hesitation.

The movies were right about one thing, though. Every day is an adventure. There is always so much happening on and around campus. Even more so, however, I have enjoyed the little adventures: the dorm events, the spontaneous late night Insomnia Cookie runs, trying to figure out what and where the mysterious noises are coming from (I live in the oldest dorm on campus, it's a strange place). I'll miss all my friends living on the same floor and running into them in the bathroom when I go to brush my teeth. And sure, there are some things I won't miss. I won't miss the always unsatisfactory dining halls. I won't miss hearing the yelling and slamming of doors at 3am as the most dedicated of the party-goers stumble home, followed all to closely by hearing the volleyball players across the street blasting their music way too early for a Sunday morning (actually, they have a really good playlist, so maybe I'll miss that just a little bit). However, grievances aside, I will truly miss my freshman year. I had such an amazing time filled with so much laughter and joy, and I genuinely feel so lucky to be in a place that I am sad to leave, even if just for a few months.