December: Lauren MacNary

December: A look back at 1st semester: what has changed about you as a person or dancer in your semester of college?

In the beginning of the semester, I was quite frightened.  I thought I would be dropped off at college and not see my family until winter break!  That seemed like my worst nightmare.  How was I going to make friends? Would the food even taste good?  Was I going to end up with merciless professors?  These were some of the many things I was scared about.  Slowly but surely I came to realize these fears were nowhere near as difficult to conquer as I had thought.  Each day came and went and I grew stronger for it.  I think that I share the same excitement with my fellow college students when I say “I survived my first semester of college!”  Sure it kind of makes me feel old, but in an accomplished way.
The first week I was separated from my family, it felt like I was cut off, estranged from contact with them.  Slowly but surely, phone call by phone call, I began to realize that was far from the case.  Just because I was living in a dorm room in a different city did not mean my relationship with my family had to change.  I was still a daughter to my parents and a sister to my sister.  I called my mom for my questions and gossiped with my sister.  I now have realized that just because I’m a college student it doesn’t mean I’m cut off from my family.  Really it is quite the opposite.  College is a big transition and we need our family in these times, but every phone call helps and visits don’t hurt either.
Making friends was my next concern.  The best thing I learned was to get involved.  When you’re part of a group it is much easier to make friends.  Universities have a variety of groups and organizations to offer from dance teams to academic clubs and Greek life.  My university had lots of sports clubs too, even a Quidditch team!  Making friends can be hard at times, especially when in a new environment like college.  Getting involved with something can really help people make connections with other people.  The juniors and seniors I met over this semester constantly emphasized that they regretted not getting involved as freshmen.  Joining a dance team and a Future Teachers organization helped me immensely with making new friends that I might very well keep for the rest of my life.
Ultimately what I learned this year was that all my fears and reservations were either untrue or easily conquered.  The campus food was fine, and the professors were awesome although some were a little eccentric.  I learned that my fears about college were a little heightened by unrealistic movies and social media.  A university is an exciting place and there was nothing and no one that could tell me not to be scared.  After this first semester I am glad to say that I did survive!  There were no truly crazy parties, or evil professors, life went on.  A new experience yes, but not the end of life as we know it.  I have been changed, I have become less frightened of the next three and a half years.  I am more trusting, and I am strong

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