last post #13 - zaucha
After I saw this prompt I took some time to reflect on the past year of my life. I realized it from the beginning but I really did have an abnormal freshman year of college. I honestly wouldn't change a thing because I am so appreciative of everything that has happened - y'know, besides the quarantine.
Even before school started I knew I wouldn't have the same year as the rest. In a typical freshman year people just move in on campus in the fall and make friends on campus but I didn't start that way. I started in Thessaloniki, Greece and immediately started living on my own in a foreign location with a language I didn't speak. Changing location for school is one thing but also going to a place where you're a complete foreigner is another thing. It was not only different but it was also an experience I will never regret. Not all people can say that they studied abroad in the first semester, but I can. I am so happy that I got to travel some of the world while being young and I am happy that I even just got a chance. I realize now that with the quarantine, many travel plans are screwed up so the timing of everything I have done so far in my college career couldn't be any better.
Going back to the fall, I know many of my friends from Chicago were joining greek life and going to local bars and parties in the typical freshman year. I was doing just that while in Greece living the actual greek life and going to clubs too. It was all different but the same.
I think the biggest moment that I actually felt like I was in college was coming back to campus. I mean the campus is one of the reasons I chose Northeastern, besides its amazing programs it was also the location I wanted to start my independent life in. Moving in I thought I would be in a freshman dorm with a small room, typical desk, and a communal bathroom. Upon arrival into the campus, I moved into an upperclassman dorm that although I did have a typical desk, I had a pretty large and spacious room with its own bathroom and a walk-in closet too. In a way I was a little upset I wouldn't get an intro to other freshmen on campus but I definitely loved the larger space.
On campus, my friends were the same people I met abroad and I am really fortunate to have such a solid circle in my life. Every weekend they have been the people I am hanging with (at least while on campus) and they really made my freshman year complete.
Throughout the year I have not only had fun going to parties and hanging out with my friends but I have also had fun going to different events at Northeastern. My biggest memories are surrounded around going to many of the legendary hocket games, especially going to the Beanpot. I will always remember the train ride back from TD Garden, it was completely packed but everyone was singing "Stacey's Mom" at the top of their voices and it really was a great memory. I also feel happy to be familiar with the Northeastern culture like going to Rebecca's, but I am sad I never tried Chicken Lou's.
In this little reflection post, I also want to reflect on classes. In the beginning, I really did have a little bit of a tough time adjusting to the speed and intensity of classes. I mean in Greece it was similar to high school with the amount of work and I got more credit for grades. But here at the campus, I have some classes in which my grade depends only on 2 midterms and a final - which is actually crazy. Obviously, I was warned about the grading styles beforehand but I guess you can never be prepared for something until it actually happens.
When I was at college I really felt the separation from my family and as much as I originally wanted to be far from home, I wish there were times that they could come out for a random weekend but I know that because of the distance it isn't possible. I was using facetime every day to call home, not that I was majorly homesick, but to make sure that I kept my family in the loop and I am very happy I did so because I need them in my life. In a way this quarantine has actually helped reunite my family because in the past my entire inner family has not been together on Easter for a long time and this may have been the last chance that our family will be able to get together for the holiday in a long time.
And lastly a little talk about the one thing that ended up cutting my semester short: the quarantine. I definitely discussed my take on it in some of my past blog posts but the biggest thing is that I am just plain. Work seems optional since I am at home and time seems to go extremely slow. I really do understand the severity of the situation and I am extremely thankful for all of the essential workers. I just really want this to end quick and I really really really want to be back on campus in the fall.
I think the biggest takeaway from this semester is to really enjoy the time I have with the people I enjoy the most. This year has flown by so so fast and I barely thought about the time while I was in it. I really did have so much fun this year and I do want to live out my college year the way I want to, though a huge part of that is actually being on campus. I really do love college even with a quick 2 months taste of campus.
Even before school started I knew I wouldn't have the same year as the rest. In a typical freshman year people just move in on campus in the fall and make friends on campus but I didn't start that way. I started in Thessaloniki, Greece and immediately started living on my own in a foreign location with a language I didn't speak. Changing location for school is one thing but also going to a place where you're a complete foreigner is another thing. It was not only different but it was also an experience I will never regret. Not all people can say that they studied abroad in the first semester, but I can. I am so happy that I got to travel some of the world while being young and I am happy that I even just got a chance. I realize now that with the quarantine, many travel plans are screwed up so the timing of everything I have done so far in my college career couldn't be any better.
Going back to the fall, I know many of my friends from Chicago were joining greek life and going to local bars and parties in the typical freshman year. I was doing just that while in Greece living the actual greek life and going to clubs too. It was all different but the same.
I think the biggest moment that I actually felt like I was in college was coming back to campus. I mean the campus is one of the reasons I chose Northeastern, besides its amazing programs it was also the location I wanted to start my independent life in. Moving in I thought I would be in a freshman dorm with a small room, typical desk, and a communal bathroom. Upon arrival into the campus, I moved into an upperclassman dorm that although I did have a typical desk, I had a pretty large and spacious room with its own bathroom and a walk-in closet too. In a way I was a little upset I wouldn't get an intro to other freshmen on campus but I definitely loved the larger space.
On campus, my friends were the same people I met abroad and I am really fortunate to have such a solid circle in my life. Every weekend they have been the people I am hanging with (at least while on campus) and they really made my freshman year complete.
Throughout the year I have not only had fun going to parties and hanging out with my friends but I have also had fun going to different events at Northeastern. My biggest memories are surrounded around going to many of the legendary hocket games, especially going to the Beanpot. I will always remember the train ride back from TD Garden, it was completely packed but everyone was singing "Stacey's Mom" at the top of their voices and it really was a great memory. I also feel happy to be familiar with the Northeastern culture like going to Rebecca's, but I am sad I never tried Chicken Lou's.
In this little reflection post, I also want to reflect on classes. In the beginning, I really did have a little bit of a tough time adjusting to the speed and intensity of classes. I mean in Greece it was similar to high school with the amount of work and I got more credit for grades. But here at the campus, I have some classes in which my grade depends only on 2 midterms and a final - which is actually crazy. Obviously, I was warned about the grading styles beforehand but I guess you can never be prepared for something until it actually happens.
When I was at college I really felt the separation from my family and as much as I originally wanted to be far from home, I wish there were times that they could come out for a random weekend but I know that because of the distance it isn't possible. I was using facetime every day to call home, not that I was majorly homesick, but to make sure that I kept my family in the loop and I am very happy I did so because I need them in my life. In a way this quarantine has actually helped reunite my family because in the past my entire inner family has not been together on Easter for a long time and this may have been the last chance that our family will be able to get together for the holiday in a long time.
And lastly a little talk about the one thing that ended up cutting my semester short: the quarantine. I definitely discussed my take on it in some of my past blog posts but the biggest thing is that I am just plain. Work seems optional since I am at home and time seems to go extremely slow. I really do understand the severity of the situation and I am extremely thankful for all of the essential workers. I just really want this to end quick and I really really really want to be back on campus in the fall.
I think the biggest takeaway from this semester is to really enjoy the time I have with the people I enjoy the most. This year has flown by so so fast and I barely thought about the time while I was in it. I really did have so much fun this year and I do want to live out my college year the way I want to, though a huge part of that is actually being on campus. I really do love college even with a quick 2 months taste of campus.
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