First-year students mark another milestone in calendar year
The month of October has marked several milestones of progression in my college life.
During childhood, October meant Halloween, raking leaves and waiting for my father to come home from hunting. As I grew older, October became a little bit more about football and actually joining my father on the hunts.
This year, October has taken a very different form.
I have adjusted myself to college life now — it would be difficult if I were still figuring out my place on campus two months later.
I am no longer asking “Where’s the business school?” or “How long does it take to get from Old Main to the dorms?” which is probably a good thing. That being said, I’m at a decent comfort level with life at the University of South Dakota.
But this October has marked a rather significant point in my college career and the college careers of many first-year students.
This month, we began to look at classes for the next semester. And within the next few weeks, we will be officially registering for our next set of professors, projects, papers and exams.
We’re beginning to form real plans for the next four years and beyond. Some of us are moving on from our high school perception of the future and diving into new, exciting endeavors. Still, others are trying to figure out what they want, what interests them and where to find happiness in their studies.
I know the first registration process I went through, like most students, was almost entirely impromptu. I came to campus one day in the summer and sat in a room with a stranger who knew nothing about my past academics, what my sleep schedule in college would be like or where I want my degree to take me.
Sure, a science course sounded good that morning. Even a math class seemed alright at the time. Also, I requested to be done by noon on Fridays. Turned out to be a solid decision.
I was lucky I turned out to enjoy my schedule and my classes. I would probably change a few things, like not having a certain class every day of the week or maybe add one day with some extra time to sleep in. But overall, I ended up satisfied.
Most students, however, dread their weekly class schedule. The grind of 8 a.m. classes, labs at 6 p.m. or a never-ending Friday with four lectures, extra math emporium work and a crazy professor. Students might also be freaking out about switching their majors. Finance isn’t counting pennies, pre-medicine is a lot of work and Spanish isn’t fun anymore.
Never fear, though, all those mistakes can be erased. Students who struggled through a rough semester have a chance to learn from their mistakes.
Your future isn’t over because you are no longer going to be the doctor in the family. And think about all the sleep available without morning classes.
Nothing to worry about. Next semester is a new start.
