I have spent the last couple of days packing up all of my belongings with my mom helping me. I start school at UCM on Wednesday, and while I am lowkey excited, I am definitely sad to be leaving San Diego. So, I thought I would write about what I am excited about, and what I am slightly dreading as I head back to school.

#1 Seeing my Friends!

I am definitely excited to see my friends from school! I have known almost all of them since my first year at UCM, and I miss them so much! I look forward to catching up with them on what they did this summer, and just getting to see them again! I especially look forward to seeing my roommate Xin, and our other friend Amri! Though Amri isn’t going to be living with us, she’s been our roommate for the last 2 years and we’re definitely super close! I also look forward to seeing my other group of friends who I spend a lot of my time with since we have the same classes: Kandyce, Sam, Jeanette, and Neon! They are my go to friends when it comes to advice, homework sessions, study review, and just to hang out! I’m also excited to see the other members of the United Pancreas club! I am currently treasurer of this club, and I’m excited for what we have in store this coming school year! My friends definitely make school more tolerable, so I’m lucky to have them in my life!

#2 Being almost done with school!

The good thing about going back to school is that it’s just a reminder that I am so much closer to graduating! Surprisingly, these past 2 years have gone by super fast, and that makes me both super happy and super nervous! I’m excited at the idea of graduating since it is something that I have looked forward to for most of my life! However, it’s definitely a little scary to realize that I am that close to getting out there in the real world! I am used to just going to class, listening to my teachers, and doing my homework, so the idea of not having any of that is a bit weird! I also look forward to going back to school because it’s an opportunity to make new friends! Because I am so “social,” I usually make a friend or two relatively quickly in each of my classes. Also, I like meeting my professors! While they may not all be nice, there’s always at least one professor that is super nice, and easy to talk to! Being back in school also provides the opportunity for making new connections that can lead to great opportunities, such as joining a club or organization, or even getting involved in research! I hope that I am able to explore my options a bit and see if I can become more involved in school since I know that it would be fun and also a great addition to my résumé!

#3 The homework, late night studying, lack of sleep…

I am definitely not looking forward to the massive amount of homework I am going to get assigned throughout the semester! Obviously, homework, projects, and tests are very important and crucial to my learning, but that doesn’t make them any less awful! I have a habit of staying up super late to study, or finish up a homework assignment, and I know that I will regret it in the morning like always! So, hopefully, I become more studious this year, and I try to set a better homework schedule for myself! Though this may or may not happen, I have to stay optimistic, and I often say to myself, “well, at least I finished that assignment/project!” Staying optimistic is they key to having a great school year!

#4 Missing my family

The main reason I dread going back to school is because I have to leave my family. I’m very close to my family, especially my mom, so it’s hard for me to say good-bye to them! You would think that after 2 years, it would be easier to leave them, but it is not. Like I said before, my mom has been helping me pack up my stuff, and I am so grateful for all of her help! She has been my biggest supporter, and even though we may not always get along, I don’t know what I would do without her! I’m lowkey embarrassed that I am tearing up as I write this, but I guess that only shows how much of an effect she has on me! Though I may only get to see her a few times this year (Thanksgiving break, Christmas break, and Spring break), I look forward to our daily phone calls that consist of telling each other about our day.

I will also miss my dad, brother, and my two sisters. My brother and two sisters are quick to update my mom on anything I may post online since they are more tech-savvy than my parents! It makes me so happy to know that my siblings are keeping an eye on me even though we may not be close together.

The last member of the family that I will miss will be my adorable dog, Annabelle! She seems to tolerate my obsessive behavior towards her, and she may try to leave my arms when I hug her, but I know deep down in her heart that she loves me! She’s the first one to greet me when I come home from university and that’s good enough for me!

Overall, I am pretty excited to be going back to UCM. Though I am nervous about my classes and what this school year will bring, I know that with the support of my amazing friends and family, I will be able to get through the year easily!