Semester Reflections

Semester 1

So far, University life is not what I expected. Being a younger sibling, I often heard about college, and envisioned what it would be like for me- hours in the library, staying up late to study in my dorm, and being completely devoted to my classes and course curriculum. However, while this is true to an extent, University is more than I ever thought it would be in terms of the sense of community, belonging, and friendship. Those hours in the library can be surrounded by classmates, and living in a dorm building means making new friends for life. 

Some things have been an adjustment, though. When thinking about my future college, I never imagined waiting until 2am to do my laundry, waking up to floormates slamming doors, or waiting in line for the dining hall. However, everything is adaptable- and I can confidently say that I overcame all of my first-semester challenges and was made better because of them.

In Scholars, I was happy to have class with friends, and enjoy activities outside of my major. Colloquium was always fun, and though my schedule was tight towards the end of the semester, I was happy with my class experience, and the amount of out-of-class work the course required. The field trip was the highlight of my semester, and scholars events were always fun too. Overall, I’m happy I joined UMD Arts scholars, and I feel that my University experience has been great so far- I’m excited to see what’s in store for the next four years!

University of Maryland. Mckeldin Mall. 2023, University of Maryland, College Park MD.