September definitely passed by in a glimpse for me. Despite having gone through it fourteen times, I feel as if the start of every academic year is tough in its own ways. The transition from summer break to college is a hassle because I’m breaking out of my comfort zone and transitioning into an environment (different housing situation, different classes, different schedule) that requires a lot of adjustment. But fortunately, as someone who enjoys changes in their environments, this was simply just another exploration for me.
First week of September for me was all goodbyes and good foods before I got on that fourteen hour flight to Boston. As soon as I set foot into the airport, I was busy running around getting kitchenware and supplies for my new place, getting to classes/clubs, catching up with friends, and meeting new friends. It didn’t really help that during the first week of school I caught a cold, got my groceries stolen, and couldn’t sleep at night due to the heat, but looking back it makes me grateful for the lifestyle I’ve settled into right now. I’m ecstatic that I can cook for myself and friends in my own kitchen and am back to this independent lifestyle where I choose what I want to do and when.
But at the same time, I personally felt as if the start of this year was more mentally straining for me as opposed to my first year in college. I felt more homesick and oftentimes fatigued; not to mention how I would ponder upon my summer and how it felt like a fever dream. Taking on more responsibilities and coming back from a 4-month long vacation definitely contributed to this feeling of overwhelmingness. But like with every new start, I know this is a growing and learning experience for me to take advantage of.
On a less serious note, classes have progressively gotten harder but are manageable, Trader Jo’s is a life saver for college students, vegan chicken nuggets are delicious, my exercise schedule needs to be re-initiated as soon as possible, and that I absolutely love being in college surrounded by friends are just some things I realized/recognized this past month.
