Mikayla's Final Blog Post

There were so many unconventional things about my freshman year of college, but so many of them I would never change. The most memorable moment of my freshman year was spending the first half of it in Greece and it will definitely be something I will remember. This was a great learning experience, not only academically, but personally. I was able to meet some of my best friends and even though I have only known them for less than a year, it feels like we have been friends forever. I definitely learned how to live on my own, which was definitely a learning experience, considering it was in a different country. I had never been away from home without my parents for more than 3 days, so even just waiting that 27 days until they came to visit was hard at first, I was able to fully emerge in the Greek culture and make the most out of my time there. Then, came Boston, which I thought would give me the normal college experience that everyone was talking about. And, although at first it did, being sent home after only being on campus for two months was pretty unconventional. 

Since being home because of Covid-19, I have realized so many things that I have taken for granted in life. Some of these things include simply going to the grocery store or a restaurant without fear of contracting a deadly virus. But, i think that this is something that most people have learned and realized. I think that a lot of people get caught up in so many extravagant pleasures in life and do not realize what they already have, I certainly do. This quarantine has definitely made me realize how many things I have taken for granted in life. Even though this is not an ideal situation with the Covid-19 pandemic, I think that everyone has something to learn from it. Although it is a horrible situation for everyone to be in, I think that there are definitely worse situations people could be in than being stuck at home. But, that being said, there are certainly still things that I miss since being home. I miss being able to eat at restaurants, being able to go inside other people’s houses, having family over to my house, and I especially miss all of my friends and extended family. My oldest cousin just had a baby, and nobody in the family can go and see him. I think about how much I was to meet him and then I think about my aunt who has not even met her grandson yet. Or, my grandmother who has not met her first great grandchild. Or,  my other cousins who have not been able to meet their nephew. But, I think that they are definitely making the right decision by not letting anyone meet him yet, due to the risks with Covid-19. 

This whole experience will definitely be something I remember. It is definitely a unique situation of being in Greece for three months of my freshman year than going to Boston for two months and then there being a global pandemic and being sent home to take online classes. But, in the end, even though this was a very unconventional year, I think the benefits of this year have outweighed the hardships and overall I had a great freshman year.