Adjusting to college over the last four months has been a challenging yet rewarding experience, and I've learned a lot about independence, time management, and relationships.
When I first arrived at the University of Redlands, I was worried about every aspect of college you could imagine. Fortunately, my experience adjusting to college life couldn’t have gone any more smoothly. This probably has been due to the fact that I started off college with a very solid foundation of friends.
During the summer, I had made the decision—one of the best decisions I’ve ever made—to go on a First-Year Journey before the semester started. During this trip, I explored Northern California and met people who I now consider some of my best friends. The uncertainty and novelty of adjusting to college was so much easier and less stressful with close friends by my side.
When classes first started, I hadn’t gotten into a routine yet and was a little taken off guard. I wouldn’t exactly say balancing school, friends, and work is hard, but if you don’t manage it, it will catch up to you.
At first, all I wanted to do was spend time with my friends, not knowing that I had to carve out significant time to focus solely on homework and studying. But I also soon realized that making time to study doesn’t necessarily equate to zero time with friends.
Although I had to make some sacrifices and move my day around, it was for the best. I had given the word balance real meaning. I began to get used to the daily swing of things. In the last few weeks, I’ve learned that being independent is all about time management and balance.
Although managing college life was somewhat overwhelming at first, I can confidently say that the skills and experiences I’ve picked up so far will continue to benefit me in the future.
Here’s what a day in my life looks like now.
Learn more about the first-year student experience at the University of Redlands.
