Let’s be real here for a minute: No matter what format you attend college in, it’s always going to have ups and downs. My college experience has certainly had plenty of each and I’m only a sophomore.
My first semester, fall 2022, proved to be harder than I anticipated. The dorms were completely full, and I lived in Cache Valley. Instead of attending class in person I had to stay home and do everything online. I didn’t think this would be much of an issue since my sophomore year of high school was during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was used to online classes; what could go wrong?
I started that semester at home taking five online classes. Within three weeks, I was so behind in my history class I had no choice but to drop it. To be fair, it did lighten my workload, but the semester was still pretty difficult.
The thing about online classes in college is that a lot of them don’t have scheduled Zoom meetings. Also, many of my professors didn’t make videos outlining lessons. I spent fall 2022 teaching myself most of the materials for all of my classes.
Don’t let this scare you though. Even if you take online classes, it’s super easy to get in touch with professors if you have questions or concerns about anything.
Spring 2023 was both easier and more difficult than fall had been. I was able to get into a dorm, but now I was an hour away from work and home. I found myself taking five classes, but with three in-person this time. It was still hard to find a balance between school, work and my social life.
The in-person classes in the spring were great. I took better notes, had more opportunities to communicate with my professors and classmates and it was easier for me to have my homework done on time. But, being away from home for the first time and trying to balance everything took a toll on my mental health.
I was constantly homesick, and I didn’t know anybody here at Weber. Making friends while getting the hang of being a good college student isn’t exactly the easiest thing ever.
Needless to say, my first year of college was a tough one. For how difficult it was, it did teach me how to function better on my own. This spring is my fourth semester as a college student and there have been more ups this school year than downs. This is my first semester completely in person and it has been wonderful so far.
When I started college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, and I’m still figuring it out. If you’re in that same boat, don’t worry; it’s normal to feel a little lost at first. The good news is college provides a space for you to explore your interests and find out who you are and what you want to do.
