Normally, I’m the type to feel sad when summer ends, but this year was different as the end of summer meant the start of my first year on campus! Accompanied by my mother and far too many suitcases and bags, I felt like a tourist as I marveled at how new and exciting being in DC felt. The move in process was a whirlwind, as many new experiences are, but the joy of arriving in DC, meeting my roommates, and setting up my dorm room made for unforgettable memories. It was wholly liberating to be making my first real steps towards independence and adulthood.

As a sophomore, my classes this year have been moving away from introductory courses and into the core content for my major, which has been exciting as topics get more specific and in-depth. The hours of preparation I put into meticulously planning out my schedule for the fall semester were truly worth it, because I was able to challenge, but never overwhelm myself. It was also fun to split my time between things like creating a group podcast for a media psychology class, performing theater monologues, studying experimental design, and literally bending over backwards in pilates. And after finishing my semester, I was offered the opportunity to be an undergraduate research assistant for one of my professors, which I plan to accept.

From having completed my freshman year fully online and off-campus, it’s been a refreshing change of pace to be on campus, where everything feels much more real. And though college gave me a new found sense of independence, I never felt alone because I knew I had my family, friends, and this community cheering me on from back home.