In the Blink of an Eye

Once said by the renowned physicist Albert Einstein, “Time flies when you are having fun.” At this point in the Fall 2020 semester, students only have a little over a month left before we are sent home for Thanksgiving break. It is shocking to me that I am already past the halfway point of my first semester as a freshman in college. Everything still feels so new and like I do not have a routine yet. It has been a variety of emotions and I have gotten to experience so many new things.

I did not realize how fast time has been moving until the thought of next semester and next year had been brought to my attention. I was told that very soon I will be asked by the university whether or not I would want to opt-in or out of living in a dorm for next year. It is crazy to me that decisions like this are needing to be decided at this early in the year. I have been told that some people already have contracts signed for apartments for next year by the end of this October. Creating my schedule for next semester is even harder to comprehend. I just started all of these classes and it does not seem possible that they are more than halfway over.

Understanding all the things that are approaching quickly is making me realize I have a lot to organize and prepare for so I can focus on the next few steps of my education.  This can be a stressful aspect and time for college, but if I take everything step by step I will get through it. Next semester is my next step, so I have decided my main focus should be to set up an academic advising appointment with my academic advisor. Academic advisors are a crucial part of staying up-to-date on your career pathway and making sure each student is able to talk through their academic plans and concerns. I am in the College of Liberal Arts at Penn State so I was given the opportunity to be apart of the Paterno Fellows Program if my grades keep me eligible. This is something I am hoping I get to permanently be apart of to feel like I belong to something due to how large Penn State University is. Setting up an appointment will definitely help relieve a number of my worries.

Once I get my plans for next semester all figured out, I want to explore my options for housing next year. As of right now I know I do not want to stay in a dorm room because there are many restrictions and I want to be able to have more freedom and meet more people. Due to Covid-19, students have been very limited on opportunities and I hope that living in an apartment will allow me to make more friends and experience more than I was able to this year living in a dorm. My main focus is to save the most money I can because I want to do as much as I can to prevent as much financial debt in the future. Living in an apartment on campus would be ideal because the distance would not be too bad to come and go from each class.

Finding someone to get an apartment with is something I must also look into. Prices vary depending on the number of roommates. I have become such great friends with my current roommate, but she has decided to continue living in a dorm for next year. My brother is a senior at Penn State and has lived in a few apartments during his time here so he will be able to help give me some advice.

All of these things that are coming up can seem extremely stressful, but I know they are all apart of the process and what helps to make this such a unique experience for each student. Rather than getting overwhelmed, I am going to try and take everything one day at a time because before I know it all of this will be over in a blink of an eye. I know everything will work out the way it is supposed to. I am beyond excited to see where it all leads me.

How I schedule an academic appointment with my advisor.

This is Martin Hall where I am currently living on campus.