Just like everyone, I was terrified to start my freshman year of college at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. It was like coming to a brand new place and starting over again because all your high school friends parted ways and went to different schools. I felt like a foreigner the first day and had no idea what to expect when I went to my classes. So, this is a reflection on my first month as a freshman at the place that became my new home.
First of all, when I walked into my first class of the day, which happened to be my least favorite class, Chemistry, I noticed everyone felt the same way I did. Nervous, anxious, terrified. All of my classes consist of about 25-30 people, so it's a decent size. I instantly made friends which made me feel better about my first day. Within a month, I already made friends that I know will last a lifetime because we all share the struggles of the anatomy and chemistry classes and labs we're taking.
When I left high school, teachers told us "good luck, you're on your own now." When I came to college, I learned that wasn't true at all. Anytime you have a question about something, you can easily get an answer from your professor by reaching out to them and emailing them. It's nothing like high school. You really form a connection with your professors in college. If you're struggling in a subject, there are tutors available to help you with whatever you need. In my Chemistry and Anatomy classes, there are SI sessions that you can attend. An SI is a supplemental instructor. So, they go to your class, learn the same info you do and take the same notes you do. Then, they hold "SI sessions" where they teach you the same information, but in a different way. It actually helps a huge amount. So, don't listen to your high school teachers when they tell you that you're on your own in college, because you're far from alone.
Over this first month, I learned that college is time-consuming and hard. There have been days that I went to class from 9 am til 1 pm, then I sat at my desk and did homework and studied until it was time to shower and go to bed at 10. You really have to be dedicated to doing work for that long. There's no such thing as "breaks" when you're a nursing student with 17 credits either.
Being away from home, living in a dorm, and being away from my family has been something I'm learning to adjust to. I sure have some phases of being homesick, but I'm getting used to it.
Overall, I love college. I feel so satisfied with my choice of attending UPJ. I've done well on the exams I've taken so far and my grades are great. College is 10x different than high school, but 1000x better too! I can't wait to spend the next 4 years here and pursue my nursing career! Bring on all the hard work and clinical.
