Cue the waterworks everyone. It is the last week of blogging in RCL The Hangover Part 2. I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but I feel like I’ve gotten a lot closer with everyone just through reading their blogs. It’s so interesting to hear everyone’s passions and I love how we can openly share with each other knowing that everyone is going to respond to their peers in such a positive way. Although I still don’t know all of you on a personal level and may never again, it was great to be able to share RCL with you, even if it was for such a short time.
Okkkkkk, that was a tad bit sappy, so now back to my passion blog for this week. I’ve been thinking a lot about how I would like to end my passion blog for this semester. The theme this time around was supposed to be freshman fails; things that were so totally embarrassing and that I would hopefully like to erase from all memory. With that being said, I figured I would end my passion blog on a much more positive note: my freshman accomplishments. I feel like despite all of the crazy, messed up things that have happened to me my freshman year, the good overwhelmingly outweighs the bad. My freshman year has been filled with some of the most amazing experiences of my life with some of the most amazing people that I’ve ever met (you know who you are :)) and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. So without further adieu, I will now highlight my top three proudest accomplishments of freshman year.
3. Academics: I’m not sure if this is going to come across as shallow or not, but I am so incredibly proud of myself for what I accomplished academically first semester. I came into college completely terrified by the idea of college classes. I didn’t feel that high school had prepared me at all for what was about to be thrown my way. I will admit, it was just as hard as I had expected it to be, but somehow I was able to pull myself together and make it through. Through all of the all-nighters, the infinite number of coffee cups, and the multiple mental breakdowns, somehow it all paid off. There are still sometimes when I ask myself how exactly I didn’t end up in a coma after finals week…I guess that’s something I’ll never know. The point is, whatever life throws your way, if you are able to accept the challenge and work hard, you can truly accomplish anything you set your mind to.
2. Extracurriculars: College to me is not just about coming, doing your schoolwork, and leaving. No. For me college is about the experience. It is about putting your heart into things that you care about and making memories that you will keep with you forever. Whenever I was not doing work, I tried to fill my time with as many fun things as I could. Whether it was being involved in Springfield (only the best THON org in the entire world!), getting up every Saturday morning for months to see my boyfriend Hack and the rest of the football team, going out with my friends and dancing until our feet hurt, or just chilling outside and contemplating life, Penn State has allowed me to see how many amazing opportunities there are outside of the classroom. I can’t wait to see what other fun things are in store for the future!
1. My Friends. AKA my Family: I’m not even sure where to begin with this one. My friends are indescribable. Any friendship that I have had in the past really has not matched the friendships that I have made at Penn State. Whenever I think about each of them, I can’t help but smile because I know that they will have my back through thick and thin, forever and always, and I will do the same for them. At this point, I am so grateful that I didn’t chose to go to any other school, because I would have missed out on some pretty awesome people. Even through the absolute worst weeks, where I’ve felt like there’s no way of me getting through, they’ve always been there to make me laugh and be my shoulder to cry on. I’m still in awe that the people I met during NSO and the very first week of school, are still my best friends today. They are all going big places, and I can’t wait to be there with them through the rest of my journey at Penn State. To everyone, find friends like these. It will make college the best four years of your life. To my Gawfredahjocks, I love y’all to the moon and back. Thanks for everything.
That is it for me now. It has been a pleasure blogging with you for the past semester, and for some of you, all of freshman year. I’m sure like me, your freshman year has been filled with many ups and downs. Try not to let the tough times get in the way of you realizing what is important and accomplishing your goals. Don’t let a few numbers on your transcript define you! You are so much more than that and you are destined to do great things. Helen Keller once said, keep your face to the sunshine, and you will never see the shadow.” Remember that every day is a new day to do something great, so keep your face to the sun and always look towards tomorrow.
David Fanelli says
Please leave me alone.
<3
jjh5589 says
Em you are so cute. I love how I can feel your peppiness even through your writing. (And yes I can tell you wrote this at 3 in the morning) HAHA but none the less, your freshmen fails have been so very entertaining but you put them in a humorous manor and flip them around so we can all learn from them because lets face it, we’ve all had these experiences. I couldn’t be happier that I met you this year and that we’ve become so close. I love you girl and yes I would do anything and have your back no matter what. I mean why else would we create this family if we weren’t one. Yes we may fight and all get mad at each other but that’s what families do! At the end of the day they are the ones picking you up and helping you through the hard times. And I will always be there for you. Hey, I consider you all my sisters by not with how close we are! Summers gonna be so hard not having you all around, but I know even if we don’t talk alllll the time over the break, things will pick right back up come next fall! I love you girl! <3
Diana Mary Alnemri says
Your blog has really been a pleasure to read! I could always relate to what you said and your advice was always just what any college student would need! This post is really great because sometimes in life you really need to take a moment to reflect on what you have and your accomplishments this past year. I loved reading about how much you love your friends! I’m the same way with my friends at home. They really are like a second family. I hope you had a nice year blogging! It was really great getting to know you!
Shannon M Mcculloch says
Emily I loved reading your blog this semester- mainly because I had been in almost every one of the situations of “freshman fails” that you discussed. All three of your points of accomplishments are soooo true and damn right you should be proud of your grades! Everyone always says that college is the time to find yourself, simply by reading your blog, I think that you are doing just that! Now that there are only three weeks left in freshman year of college, maybe you could continue your freshman fails blog next year as a sophomore! (jk, but seriously- fab job!)