A few thoughts for the road...
Hello, everyone!
So, school’s over… :| Honestly, I have no idea how the semester went by so quickly. For me it’s been all about classes, studying, work, and that sort of stuff from the moment I got up till I went to bed. And I loved it! So after I had my last final and realized I had nothing to do that evening I was kind of … confused, I guess. Believe it or not, I miss school already and I’m really excited about next semester. Some of you might find that a bit insane, so let me try and give you somewhat of an idea of why I feel the way I do (and note that I’m not the only one).
There’s a fun little saying that goes something like “there’s a time and a place for everything, and it’s called ‘college’.� That’s true, no matter what your stance on it is. Whether you’re going off to college knowing exactly what you want to do and study, or, on the contrary, trying to figure out what it is that you like and are good at; whether you want to get over the high-school period as soon as possible and start over, or, on the contrary, be with some of your friends further on; if you want to have an active social life, or, on the contrary, just be yourself and be left alone; etc; etc; etc… no matter what you want to get out of your college experience, I think you can get there, if you put some effort into it. But it’s important to keep your options open, too – you might be surprised to discover how much you like doing something you’ve never thought you would.
One of the greatest things about this place at least (although I assume it’s about this college system, in general) is that you’re free to be yourself, without being labeled or judged; as long as you respect others’ individuality, they’ll respect yours. If you have a particular interest (social, professional, academic, religious, scientific, cultural, athletic etc.) there almost certainly is a club, or an organization, or a department, or a group, or faculty and staff pertaining to the university that share that interest; and by the end of your first semester, you will have probably found it/them. The only catch is to be patient and not to give up when things get tough.
Trust me, it’s not all easy and peachy. A few weeks after school starts, you’ll probably get really homesick. I know I did. It was weird and new, because I had never missed home before; I had missed my “house� and certain people, but not “home.� It’s particularly difficult when you come to feel overwhelmed by assignments, or all the activities you’re involved in, or your living situation, and so on and so forth. But - even if it sounds like a cliché - it’s all part of the learning experience. Learning isn’t all about the courses you have. No, when talking about this college system, learning is about you. You get to know yourself, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and you do that not only by observing yourself, but by seeing how a number of perfect strangers perceive you.
I eventually realized that my feeling of missing home was all about missing the life I used to have. I realized that I had to steadily build a new one here, and that I had begun doing that from the first day. It’s a scary thought. But at the same time it makes every accomplishment, as small as it may be, all the more rewarding. Whether it’s getting a good grade or a word of praise from a teacher, or overcoming a bad moment, you’re the one who’s doing it, all on your own. If you’re having a rotten time and you have people you’ve met here there for you, that only adds to you’re growing individuality – in most cases the way people who have never met you before perceive and accept you says something about your character and, hence, about what type of a person you are. If you can get perfect strangers to care enough so that they are there for you after only a few weeks, it means you’re probably getting this whole “college experience� right, even though you may not know it – you’re growing up.
Don’t give up and pack your toys if and when you get tired, disappointed, sad, homesick… Challenge yourself to stick through it just so you can see what the outcome will be. And, if nothing else, you’ll get just that out if it: having challenged yourself. This “exercise� entails qualities you’ll always need. Trust me – in other parts of the world, universities simply don’t care about any aspect having to do with you as an individual, or even a student…
Where I’m concerned, I know exactly why I’m here, I’ve known what I want to do for over eight years. My focus is on the academic aspect of it all; that’s what I work for, that’s what charges my batteries. And, now, at the end of the semester, I find it has been intellectually rewarding. I loved my classes and it was great having the teachers I did.
But I’ve also learned that other aspects of college can be rewarding as well, and that they count a lot toward my bettering as a person. I love my job at the library – it’s my first job ever, so I never imagined how much I’d love having one; and, actually, I love that place, my “home away from home� – I’m practically always there – when I’m not doing a shift, I’m studying.
And when I’m not in class or at the library, I’m with the friends I’ve made here. It’s incredible how they received me, coming from another society and all. They’ve been so genuinely open to learning about me and my culture. They accepted me without trying to change me; on the contrary, they tried to understand me and make me feel at home. And, funny as it may seem, this type of attitude actually made me want to change, it made me want to be a better person. Just so you get an idea of what I’m talking about: a few nights ago when I got back to my room, some of the friends from my floor said they had a Christmas present for me – it was a traditional Romanian cake, cozonac, that they had looked up on the internet and had spent two days trying to bake. Instead of focusing on their finals, they put their hearts into doing that for me (not to mention that they went shopping for the ingredients through the blizzard). It was just amazing:) On the same note, right now I’ writing from my friend Caryn’s house. She and her family “adopted� me for the holidays, while the campus is closed. They just took me in and made me feel at home:)
I have a full college experience and I feel it. At the end of my first semester here I feel a more accomplished individual. A good way to greet the holidays, don’t you think?
This is what I got out of my UNE experience so far. Maybe it’s something each of you can get; maybe not. If you have second thoughts, if you decide to switch majors, or dorms, or even universities - that’s ok, it’s ok to change your mind as long as you tried. Give yourself a shot, it’s worth it. It’s all about attitude and how you choose to see things and to embrace what comes your way. I’m not writing poetry, I’m telling you this because it’s what I do and it’s worked for me.
I don’t know if I’ll be posting anything during what’s left of this year, so I’ll just go ahead and wish everyone Happy Holidays! Thinking back, I can’t remember what my New Year’s Resolution was for 2007, but I know that for 2008 I want to build further on this state of inner balance. What’s your New Year’s Resolution?
Take care, everyone! Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year!
Anda.
PS: In my future entries, I’ll tell you all about my “first American Christmas“ :)) See you soon!
