Like I have said a number of times before, the weeks and days are flying by at this point in the semester. This week was a pretty standard week, nothing too crazy or eventful that I feel I need to share. This week mainly included me trying to get over a cold. To be honest, I was nervous I had covid at a point in time this week, but after two negative tests, I think I am good. I spent almost all of Wednesday in bed which was much needed. I slept the whole day, but I feel way better now. Much of the time I spent in bed was occupied by looking at classes for next year.
With little time left this semester, that means scheduling for Fall 2021 will be approaching quickly. It is still early for freshmen to know exactly what we plan on doing with our majors and or future careers, but it is still important. Overwhelming is definitely an understatement when it comes to all the decisions and preparation that are still yet to come. Having a roommate who knows exactly what she needs and has to do for her future can be intimidating at times because I have an idea of where I would like to end up, but I still have no clue at the same time. For example, she knows she has to take part in summer courses just to fit in all her credits, while I do not know the exact credits I need to have. They always say you should never feel alone because there are others in the same boat, but it is hard to do when the person you live with and are super close with seems to have everything planned out. I know there are others out there who are feeling the same way, it can just be stressful when everyone seems to have their next few years all planned out for college and what courses and things they have to complete. This is something that will all come with time, and this is just another reminder to live in the moment because everything will work out.
Currently, I am taking the course Psych 105. Anyone who is or plans on attending Penn State with a major in psychology should absolutely take this class. I one hundred percent recommend taking it. In this course, you learn about all the careers and pathways that psychology can lead to. The professor gives great resources and gives so much help in what you must do specifically to your path. It is an enormous amount of information and is overwhelming because of how far we look ahead, but I think it has helped me understand so much more. Being in this class helps me feel less alone because I get t to hear from other students who feel similar to the way I do.
Time really is flying by, we are now 2/3 done with the our second semester of freshman year! I can relate to the intimedation of looking to the future. Personally, I know what I want to major in so my advisor has explained what I need to take, but beyond that I feel lost on the subject. These past two semesters have been so weird that it often feels like I am in this awkward stage between high school and college. I finally feel like I have the hang of zoom classes, which is all I have had for over a year now, and it is very intimedating to think that next semester will be like freshman year 2.0! Right now I am just trying to look at the few small steps ahead like finishing this semster and figuring out what I am doing this summer because looking to the future can be overwhelming.
This really hit the nail on the head for one of my deepest fears – that I don’t know what I’m doing with my life and what the future holds for me. I agree that it seems like everyone around you knows what they’re doing and that’s incredibly intimidating. As a remote student, there’s a disconnect as I’ve only be able to communicate with other PSU students through GroupMe, Reddit, Discord, Zoom classes, and other social media.
Everyone seems so well put together and ambitious in terms of their planned academic schedules and career development. Some students were discussing taking summer classes and networking for internships, and I haven’t done any of that yet! I agree that there’s a lot of us in the same boat, so the best we can do is to talk to our advisors, friends, professors and keep an eye out for any opportunities.