Year One Reflections
The rooms are empty. The car is packed. The 2011-2012 school year officially ends today. It’s a bittersweet feeling. Though finals are always a hectic end to each semester, I can’t help but feel I am leaving part of my family behind as I venture to my actual home in Georgia. The quiet five hour trip home and a head full of thoughts has given me some time to reflect on the year past…and some insight and goals for the year ahead.
Before coming to Vanderbilt, I was on Cloud 9–I had a very successful high school career, academically, athletically, and spiritually. I came from a town and county where everyone knew my name or had heard of me in some shape or form. I was, and still am, very blessed, and was comfortable with being “comfortable.” In spite of this, I was very much so looking forward to the new opportunities to grow in a new state with new people at a new school. I expected myself to hit the ground running, as I usually did back home, and achieve and succeed. Little did I know how much growing I had (not finished yet!) to do.
The most important thing I have learned this year is not to underestimate–classes, people, myself. The second most important lesson? Learning to bounce back from failure. As much as I pictured what the college experience was supposed to look like, my journey thus far depicts an experience that has both aligned and deviated from my prior notions.
From the amazing people I have met to the tough professors, I have been taken by surprise in more ways than one. I have met people who have shaped me, challenged me, and affirmed my own beliefs in the process. In spite of my preconceived notions, not all professors are out to get you, not every college student is a drunken mess, and yes, college tests are no joke. It’s been quite the time learning these lessons firsthand, but I wouldn’t trade the experiences for the world.
To the class of 2016, you are in for an amazing ride. The college experience will challenge your wits, your perseverance, your morals, and everything with which you have become “comfortable,” as is it supposed to. It might take all four years to find who you are, what you want to do, and where you fit in, but don’t pass up any opportunity to discover what that is. Lose yourself. Find yourself. Enjoy every moment of the chaos, for time passes in the blink of an eye.
And if you meet failure along the way? Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep on keepin’ on! Without the struggles we cannot appreciate the successes.
From a student, sister, daughter, and female who has endured and persevered through Year One at Vanderbilt University, I encourage our new additions to join the Commodore family not only with your entire closets, mounds of new school gear, and freshman spirit, but with an open mind. The opportunities to grow at Vanderbilt are endless–take advantage of the great year to come!