It was not without its challenges, but my first year at the University of Maryland has been a very rewarding experience. I am grateful for the relationships I've built, experiences I've had and knowledge that I've learned. This university is a place of opportunity, and that means your experience here is largely what you make. While that can be overwhelming, I found it to be a great privilege this year.
One of my favorite academic aspects of college is the ability to choose the classes that I am actually interested in. While general education and prerequisite requirements can sometimes feel like a waste of time, there are so many to choose from and always make me a smarter person in some way. My favorite course thus far has probably been JOUR201, as it built the actual skills I want to apply in my career. That sense of learning tangible, applicable knowledge has been a rewarding theme through my first two semesters. I also really enjoyed my ARTH265 course in the fall, which explored how art can shape perspectives of climate change. I took that class as a mostly random general education requirement that sounded somewhat interesting — but it turned out to be incredibly insightful. Being a class I never would have taken if not for the general education credit, I think the course was a testament to the value in exploring new topics. Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone is where you can find some of the most rewarding experiences.
The professors in this university are some of the most impressive individuals I've met. They are true experts in their fields, and that makes them incredibly valuable connections. That said, I think those connections shouldn't be forced but grown from your genuine interest. My strongest relationships are with my professors who I interact with more regularly in smaller classes and whom I deeply admire for their contributions and expertise in my fields. Building those connections can be intimidating, but I've found that the faculty here is genuinely interested in supporting their students. They care about you and are happy to be a resource, so making yourself available and putting the effort in can develop strong relationships.
The student body is equally important to the university community. This school is so big that I believe everyone can find their people here. Everyone on campus has their own perspectives, and you can learn so much from each of them. I have a strong group of friends whom I know I can rely on and have a genuinely meaningful relationship with. That said, developing those connections takes time and can be a challenge initially. For me, the best way to counter that obstacle was to recognize I had to make an effort and put myself out there. Placing yourself in new positions will force you to interact with people in the same situation as you, and those connections can grow into lifelong friendships.
My life on campus is vastly different from my life back home and throughout high school. There is plenty of support here, but there is also much more responsibility. You are the only one who can make decisions for you, and you have to be confident in the values and perspectives that drive those choices. For example, being surrounded by friends presents so many social opportunities that can be hard to turn down. But it's important to balance your priorities — and that's something I had to adjust to. College is a busy time of your life that requires maturity to manage your life. I think that is something you will inevitably pick up, but you can also make your experience a lot easier by always remembering why you are at this university and what you want to achieve upon graduation.