In my first month of college, I wrote a reflective statement boldly declaring that by moving into the dorms I had “transitioned to adulthood” and that I was certain I “would not be a materials engineer”. It baffles me to think that I could’ve possibly believed this transition was in any way complete. Fast forward three and a half years and I am now proudly aware that I am still very much in the midst of transitioning to adulthood. I am almost done with my degree in materials science & engineering and I am absolutely content with my choice of major and thankful for all of the experiences it has given me.
I’ve changed and grown in unexpectedly rewarding ways in college. I’ve learned to recognize my intrinsic default anxieties and I’m starting to figure out how to deal with them. This was not an easy process. It took some low, lonely moments to help me appreciate the importance of self care and emotional management. At the end of high school, I was told the “highs would be higher, but the lows would be lower” in college. I understand this now. As I continue to learn and evolve, I want to learn how to appreciate the ride rather than flight the twists and turns.
I’ve experienced the most beautiful things in these past four years. Internships brought me around the country and lead me to the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever met. The Honors program lead me to Rome, showed me the most curious minds, and introduced me to better life partners than I ever could’ve imagined. I got to live and travel with my bests friend for three years. They make me laugh, hard, every day and they pick me up when I’m even a little bit down. It has been emotionally challenging and overwhelmingly stressful, but it would be false to say that college has been anything less than the best days of my life. How could I not be sad that it’s ending?
More and more, I am able to identify the types of experiences I will draw value from. The flip side of this is knowing what I don't like. I went into college wanting to be more spontaneous, spiritual, and easy going. In reality, I really thrive under structure and I find meaning in hard work, routine, and scientific reasoning. From this, its especially hard to have ~no idea~ what I'm doing after graduation. Applying to graduate school has been an unexpectedly tumultuous process. Whatever happens, here's to hoping the next four years will bring as many new friends, quiet moments, laughs, flights, unexpected challenges, long runs, and new perspectives as the last four.
I’ve changed and grown in unexpectedly rewarding ways in college. I’ve learned to recognize my intrinsic default anxieties and I’m starting to figure out how to deal with them. This was not an easy process. It took some low, lonely moments to help me appreciate the importance of self care and emotional management. At the end of high school, I was told the “highs would be higher, but the lows would be lower” in college. I understand this now. As I continue to learn and evolve, I want to learn how to appreciate the ride rather than flight the twists and turns.
I’ve experienced the most beautiful things in these past four years. Internships brought me around the country and lead me to the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever met. The Honors program lead me to Rome, showed me the most curious minds, and introduced me to better life partners than I ever could’ve imagined. I got to live and travel with my bests friend for three years. They make me laugh, hard, every day and they pick me up when I’m even a little bit down. It has been emotionally challenging and overwhelmingly stressful, but it would be false to say that college has been anything less than the best days of my life. How could I not be sad that it’s ending?
More and more, I am able to identify the types of experiences I will draw value from. The flip side of this is knowing what I don't like. I went into college wanting to be more spontaneous, spiritual, and easy going. In reality, I really thrive under structure and I find meaning in hard work, routine, and scientific reasoning. From this, its especially hard to have ~no idea~ what I'm doing after graduation. Applying to graduate school has been an unexpectedly tumultuous process. Whatever happens, here's to hoping the next four years will bring as many new friends, quiet moments, laughs, flights, unexpected challenges, long runs, and new perspectives as the last four.