Over one week into college, several things already happened to me, both impacting me in a challenging way and a positive way. I am not just saying that a new location filled with new people placed me in a new perspective. Many more things influenced me to explore the world I am growing up in, discover a deeper meaning of my life, understand different perspectives, and learn to appreciate all my college experience has to offer me.

Before heading to college, I never knew who my roommate was going to be. As time went on in high school, I heard that many of my other friends had roommates, and I was getting increasingly nervous. I did not know what to expect at all, I had no idea if we would have anything in common, and I worried that she would not even like me.

Lo and behold, I will have to say that all of the waiting was worth it. After I met my future roommate Sylvia in orientation, I already knew we were going to be roommates. We had plenty of things in common, we got along extremely well, and we opened up like best friends right away. I cannot be more happy to have a friend and roommate like her, and our meeting is one of my favorite reminders to be patient.

Another concern I had about college was the good ol' cliche: Freshman Fifteen. Beforehand, I used to struggle with food and body image all of my life, so I was honestly terrified of making the best choices at BING. I knew they had healthy options, but I was concerned that I was going to splurge like I used to and gain weight again.

Well, I am happy to say that my fears never happened. One thing I really love about being a college student is the greater array of freedom. This includes deciding what to put into my body and how to care for it. This may feel contradictory to you, but I feel even healthier here than I did back home. No joke. The healthy options of food are so tasty, and the portion sizes made me happy; therefore, I was able to enjoy delicious meals while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, I enjoy creating my own schedule for exercise. I have a chart that has a list of group workouts that take place all day, ranging from Zumba, to Circuit Training, to Spin, to Ab Workouts (etc.). Personally, I love attending the Zumba classes!

The third thing I am going to mention is the actual classes. Some of them are more challenging than others, but the experience is great overall. Even though I am in college, I know that I haven't found one true method of studying yet. I actually realized that for each subject, there are different ways of learning the material and that one does not always fit all. For example, in my Intro to Theater Class, I used flashcards and outlines to study; however, I realized that there were still many details I accidentally skimmed while reading. Although I am not upset about the shaky start, I am still humbled that nothing can ever be taken for granted. It is important to appreciate every small thing in life because everything adds up to create a final product. Hopefully, I will be able to figure that out next time, but I wanted to share these words of wisdom with you all!

Finally, do not be afraid to try something new! Upon arriving on campus, I thought I wanted to go into theater right away; however, I discovered so many more valuable opportunities out there. I have tried new foods I never heard of before, I have made friends with peers in my hall, community, and classes, I have learned more by asking questions in class, and I have discovered new chances to spread my wings. A few days ago, I attended a meeting for a psychology club, and I absolutely LOVED it. Also, just a few hours ago, I got to do something I always dreamed about doing: I got to learn how to salsa with partners. You never know what you will find out in college, but challenges and changes alike can help you to emerge as a true individual.