Week 15: The End (of the semester)

Y'all!!!! It's the end of the semester, this is literally it!
I am in the process of finishing my exams and projects right before finals week, and just looking back at this journey has been crazy. I don't think I expected myself to grow so much as a person and be so happy being on my own. Of course I miss home, but I have realized that I am okay with being in Austin. I am actually kind of sad, way more than I thought, about the semester ending. It's weird how every semester feels like the end of the year because your whole schedule changes every 5 months, unlike high school. I enjoyed the process of adjusting and actually learning about myself. I realized the type of person I am, who I want to surround myself with, and what my goals are academically. The plan for next semester is to hopefully be able to internally transfer, which is a process, let me tell you, it actually sucks; but, I will get through it. College is literally so hard, but it is also so much fun. I usually take so much longer to be happy with where I am in life, and I usually realize it after it is over, so I am grateful that I was able to figure out this is what I want. I am glad I chose UT to be the school I attend, the opportunities and lifestyle here is so different from any other college, and I wouldn't change it (except for the amount of stuff we constantly have to do). I love being busy, but like your girl needs a break because right now, things are not it. Also, speaking of break, can we talk about how winter break is literally 5-6 weeks long, like WOW! I am so ready:). This semester has been amazing, and I am so happy. Thank you guys so much for being on this adventure with me, I am so glad I got to document my first semester of college because I know I will look back at it and reflect. College changes you but in my case, I think for the better. You get to learn so much, so just be open-minded and enjoy your time because you won't ever get it back. I hope you guys have an amazing adventure in your college years, have fun and be well. Thank you! :)

Week 12: Friendships and Meeting People

Hi!! I wanted to talk about how important making friendships are in college this week with you guys. So a lot of people talk about networking and connecting with people to help them in the future, which is extremely important, but more so than that, I think it is necessary to build bonds with people because they end up being your support system in your home away from home. I came in with many friends already here at UT, but honestly I have drifted away from some of them, and that is completely okay. People go through many friend groups during their college years, but they usually end up with a few extremely close friends and in touch with many good people. It is normal for people to grow and have their paths diverge in different directions, but that does not mean you cut people off or be rude. Staying kind to everyone is very important because you never know when you will need them, and being there for them is gratifying because you are helping someone through whatever they are going through. Furthermore, I encourage going out and meeting many people as much as you can. The semester can get really hectic and annoying to the point where you literally just want to stay in your room and work all day, but even if you talk to someone new every day in your classes can lead to lifelong or even short term friendships. Getting to know people helps broaden your perspective on life, new views, and just a good time. Never try to be someone you are not for someone else, but if you vibe with someone then make sure you make the effort to stay in touch with them. College is hard, I have said this time and time again, and I think that one of the main ways I destress or cope with my anxiety is by surrounding myself with good people and just hanging out with them whenever I can. So, I encourage you to meet new people and be open-minded because you never know when you'll encounter that new best friend or even someone that you enjoy talking to! :)

Week 8: Going Home

Hey guys! So the semester has definitely picked up and the continuous exam season is on a loop. I basically finished and started my first and second round of exams in the same week. Being so busy can be a good thing for someone who is homesick like me, but it's also annoying because you feel like you can't go home. I feel bad for people out of state who have to wait til November to go home for Thanksgiving. I am so grateful to only be 3 hours away from home because I am able to go home every two weeks, which I am so happy about. I am extremely close to my family, I can't even explain it to you guys, so having the choice of going home in the back of my mind makes it easier to get through the weeks honestly. Coming home is always a weird feeling because it's like you're a guest in your own home and you're on vacation. I still have a lot of work to do when I am at home, but it just feels so relaxing and nice to be comfortable and not overwhelmed with campus life. However, the weekends at home fly by and it can be sad. Sundays are probably the worst day in history as they are so bittersweet. After spending two days with family, doing everything I enjoy at home, like eating out, watching TV, and hanging out with all my loved ones, I have to say goodbye and go back "home." It's such a weird feeling. I thought it would get easier, but honestly every time it gets harder and I hate it. I am currently home, so I am hoping that I don't feel too upset when I go back. I am perfectly fine when I am in Austin, but that transition from leaving Houston to go back makes me so depressed that I wish I could just move UT to Houston for my convenience. But I know I can't have the best of both worlds. I just feel like when I am in Austin I miss out on memories and family experiences, so when I am back I don't want to leave. Coming back to my old room in the comfort of my home is something that I never thought I would have to worry about or miss because I always thought it would be there. Everyone misses me so much, so I really love the special treatment I get when I come back as well. It's good to know that the time I get to spend with everyone when I am back home is not wasted and is sacred in a way, and we are all fortunate to have that because many other people cannot come home until the longer breaks. So just some advice before I sign off, if you do get time and are able to go home, I totally recommend it because you need that balance. Being cooped up in Austin is not always the greatest, especially because campus is dead on the weekends; however, if you can't go home, just please try to stay in touch with everything and everyone back home because it makes the transition process easier.

Week 5: Living in a Dorm (1 month update)

So, I've been living in a dorm for a month now and I am SO glad I am not living in an apartment right now. Initially I really did not want to stay in a dorm because of the cramped space, but honestly it was a good choice. My dorm is not that small (I live in Duren), and it honestly feels like a hotel sometimes. It's so clean, nice, and private. I even have my own bathroom that I just share with my roommate, so that's the cherry on top. I posted some pictures of my room in my Week 1 post if you would like to see. Honestly, even though I am not completely living on my own, making my own food, or having to clean everything myself, living here has made me grow up a little, develop some responsibilities, and prioritize my tasks. You don't actually realize the small things you constantly need, like paper towels, when you are at home. And if you're like me, someone who never did chores and luckily had the stuff I needed most of the time, living alone is a wake up call. Making sure your roommate is comfortable, setting boundaries with each other, and dividing up the living arrangements take a lot of work and energy to be honest. However, the most important part is: EATING. Every college student is busy, which is why I am glad I have a meal plan on campus because I don't think I would eat if I had to make my own food. It is so time-consuming, so when you are in a dorm, please take advantage of the dining halls. Many people on campus complain about the food, but honestly there is so much variety. I live across from Kinsolving, and the food there is so good. Also, keep the fridge and snack bars stocked in your room because you will get hungry very often, especially because of the amount of walking we all have to do on UT's campus. Furthermore, having a set schedule on when to clean is important too because the room can get messy FAST. I'm pretty lazy, like I haven't made my bed since August, but I really do make an effort to keep the rest of the room organized. I think my dorm is allowing me to get a good balance between complete adulthood and slowly gaining responsibilities. I have to do a lot on my own, but I have some benefits, like no bills, cooking, and maintenance. Also, the location of my dorm is great too because it is close to many restaurants, in case I do get bored with dining hall food, and it isn't too far from my classes either. Doing research beforehand and planning out where the best place to live during your first year of college is something I highly recommend doing because it really affects your experience. I am glad I tried something out of my comfort zone, and actually listened to my parents for once by opting to live in a dorm. I have friends in apartments who wish they lived on campus because the vibe is just different. I really enjoy it, and I think every first year student should live on campus because it is a good balance; if I had to become a full on adult my first year, I would be such a mess right now. I hope this helped some of you who are confused with deciding where to stay when you come to UT. Trust me the easy accessibility to everything really makes a difference, especially on this campus!

Week 1: Moving In

 Sooo, August 24th was when I came to my new home for the next four years. I was really excited, but nervous at the same time. I'm really close to my family, so it was definitely going to be a process adjusting away from home. I remember everything from that day: we left my house after spending two days packing, the drive up from Houston was pretty short (probably because of the mixed emotions of coming to UT), and I remember the overwhelming feeling of getting my keys, going into my dorm in Duren for the first time, setting everything up, and saying bye to my family. My brother graduated from UT in 2016, so he went down memory lane when we drove up to campus, but of course I was so confused with all the acronyms he was using (I'm still trying to learn and become fluent in campus lingo - "UT"). The feeling of independence immediately hit me when I had to go by myself to grab my keys and figure out my ID situation because they separate family and students at the gate of the baseball stadium. After completing the first task on the checklist, my brother and I took a picture at the Moov-In sign they had set up for freshmen. It was surreal because it started to hit me that this was it.

Next, we drove up to Duren and unloaded the car. My roommate, who is a friend from high school, was already there with her family, so the room was pretty cramped (as you can imagine). However, it was much bigger than I expected, not to mention, we had our own bathroom! It was a tradeoff having our own bathroom, but also having to clean our rooms ourselves, but anything is better than a community bath! I recommend living with a friend who is well acquainted with your family, but not someone who you would want to risk losing as a friend. I love my roommate and we have gotten closer, but sometimes there are horrible roommate stories, so to avoid that - don't do random roommate selection. I want to be very direct with you guys and let you into my experience as much as I can. San Jacinto was my first dorm choice, but all the rooms were taken by the time I had to select my room. Duren is really far from main campus, but luckily my morning classes are in Moody, which is right around the corner. Despite the walking, I come to main campus everyday. Anyways, back to moving in. It took my family and I about 1-2 hours to set up the room, but it all worked out quite well. My family was staying the night in a hotel, and my sadness has hit hard at this point, and I decided to stay with them rather than my dorm. I just wanted to spend my last few moments with my parents. I know it may seem dramatic, but I am the baby of the family and I am VERY close to my parents, so I didn't want to say goodbye just then.
Fast forward to the next day, this was it. It was time to do the one thing I was dreading since I got into UT: I had to say bye to my family. After spending the afternoon with them, I reassured my family that I would be okay because everyone was emotional and not ready. We all knew this was going to happen, and just like that, my parents were on their way back to Houston. Of course, as soon as I got into my room, I started bawling because I was holding in the tears in front of my family. Luckily though, my roommate was amazing and very comforting. We decided to explore the campus to keep our mind off of the sadness, and honestly it was a smart decision. I'm so lucky Houston is only 2.5 hours away, but for those who are moving much farther away from home - I want to suggest talking to your family as much as you can when you move away, especially in the beginning because it truly will make you feel better. Don't internalize, distract yourself by exploring, make friends, and talk to people about how you're feeling! Never go through anything alone, it's all about going through an experience that will shape your life forever. There are so many students on campus, you really don't feel stressed or scared. I'm glad I picked UT to spend my next four years!