The Cozy Tulip

I graduated almost a year ago (May 2024), so I thought it was time to reflect on my college experiences and life since parting with college life through writing. I am also 99% sure I had a dream about graduation last night, but I do not quite remember. But let’s say I did just for the sake of it.

College was a very exciting and interesting phase of my life, but also very challenging and demanding at times, trying to navigate what I want to do with this one life and who I am, which i still am figuring out. But do we ever fully figure it out? Are we not constantly changing and evolving and getting to know our new selves? Is that not what life is all about? Regardless, college was hard but also amazing and wondrous. And I would never change the time I had there. 

College for me started in an already fragile and tumultuous time, and thus, my mind was also fragile and tumultuous. I graduated high school in 2020, the lockdown year. When August came around and it was time for the first semester to start, everyone was waiting to see if we would move into the dorms. We did, only to move out 2 weeks later because too many students and faculty members got infected with COVID-19. This was very disappointing, to say the least. But I do believe everything happens for a reason. Because that year was fully remote I got the opportunity to go to Hawaii and Colorado all by myself and explore. Incredible experiences, truly. That year, however, was also incredibly isolating. 

When sophomore year came around, I did feel a little bit behind. I had not made any college friends yet or explored the surrounding area. However, sophomore year turned out to be one of the best years of my life. Gosh I had so much fun. It was a tough transition of course, but most of it was a positive experience. I moved in with three girls I had originally dormed with during the first two weeks of freshman year in our eight-person suite, and they turned out to be three of my best friends to this day. We lived together every year after that: Emma, Nicole, and Cam. I love you, girls!

I can be very indecisive, and choosing a major was not a decision I felt confident about, especially while trying to figure out who I was. I had no idea what I wanted to do. Throughout college, I changed my major about five times. I started with biology, then switched to environmental studies, followed by art history, and eventually settled on Global Studies. I also added a double major in Peace, War, and Defense and a minor in German. Ironically, I’m not currently working in any field related to what I studied! But that’s just the way life goes. My education was not a waste. I learned how to think critically, write logically, discuss issues with others, form opinions, and solve problems effectively. I trained my mind and gained a lot of knowledge.

I did also find love (how cheesy or not that may sound). I met my now boyfriend, Riley (I love you), of 2 years, who I recently moved in with. We met during my junior year, his senior year and I will always look back on the time fondly when we had just met and not yet quite together. We were long-distance all throughout my senior year and most of the months after my graduation, but it was all worth it in the end. 

The girl who graduated was vastly different from the freshman version of myself. I had developed a lot more confidence, gained a much better understanding of who I was and what I liked, and created many new incredible memories and life-long friendships. Yet, I still felt uncertain about what the future might hold. I was standing on the precipice of amazement looking back at my memories, longing for the freedom I was embarking on, and fear of the unknown. I have learned that longing for certainty is often wasted because, after all, is the future ever truly certain?

Some things I learned in college:

1. Build genuine friendships and surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are. 
2. Embrace new experiences and hobbies, this is a perfect time to explore what you love to do. 
3. Make an effort to say yes more often and live a little! 
4. Stay on top of your classes. If you keep up from the beginning, it will be much easier to manage the coursework throughout the semester. 
5. Don’t stress if you feel lost, everyone goes through that phase. If someone claims they have it all figured out, they might just be pretending. 
6. If you have the opportunity, study abroad. It was one of the best decisions I made and can be a transformative experience. 
7. Remember, you are amazing just as you are, so embrace your uniqueness. 
8. Treasure the time spent with your friends because after graduation, those moments will be rare. Enjoy hanging out after class, having breakfast together, and having spontaneous wine nights. Cherish those little moments as much as you can. 
9. Fully participate in game days, Halloween, and other fun events. These experiences will be irreplaceable. 
10. Take the time to reflect and journal about your experiences and challenges. This is a transformative period in your life, so make the most of it.