Going into my sophomore year of college, I had one thing on my mind "How do I not look like a freshman?" Last year, I had the excuse of the stupid freshman who didn't know where her classes were and always ate at the SU for lunch. Waking up for the beginning of my sophomore year, I felt like I knew what I was doing and I could help a young, innocent freshman around NKU. Unfortunately, that's not what happened.
Like a stereotypical freshman, I got to campus early, partly because I wanted to see my friends and partly because I wanted a good spot in my class. Walking to my first and only class on Monday, I walked in and saw a freshman who I have as a resident. I walked up to her and was excited to see someone that I knew. I found my seat and next thing I knew, the professor wrote on the board "ENG 101." Immediately, I was confused because I thought I was in my POP 205 class. I sprinted out of that room to avoid any more embarrassment and pull up my NKU app. Of course, I was in the right room but at the wrong time.
I was discouraged that I made a fatal error already, but also determined because I knew that I could go confidently into my next class, at the right time, and be the mature college sophomore I know I am. Walking in POP 205 at the right time, I found a decent spot in the class and was ready to take on this semester. Not even five minutes after someone sat next to me did someone ask me "are you a freshman?"
I tried to blow it off like "No I'm a sophomore" but I couldn't help but be a little mad. I tried that morning to not look like I was new to campus. I didn't have the dreaded yellow lanyard on and I didn't even tell the story of how I came to this class an hour early. I was frustrated because I always thought I looked older than 19 years old but here I am, looking like a college fetus.
Second day of classes, I was determined to prove to myself that I knew what I was doing. I knew exactly what I was doing and I was ready to show the world who I was. Unfortunately, my confidence went away before my first class even began. I couldn't find the room where my class was and I had to ask two different people to help me. Both of them told me that the room I was looking for didn't existed and I checked my syllabus again to see that I was looking at the wrong room. I was reading where my professors office was and not where the class was.
Through these experiences, I have learned a few things. One, just because I've already gone to NKU for a year, that doesn't mean I shouldn't look more into when and where my classes are. Two, a sophomore in college is just one year older than a freshman so I shouldn't take offense to it when I get mistaken for a freshman. Finally, I learned that I don't know everything. I'm still learning and I will be until I graduate. I'm ready to take on my sophomore year, whether it's ready for me or not!
