An Ode to College
My Freshman year was different from most: COVID was still prominent, and I did not step a single foot onto the Texas A&M campus that entire year. I was confined to a 4x2 room in the Callaway house with three other roommates, one of whom I went to high school with and the other two I met through social media. Going from being in a fast-paced city to College Station was a severe culture shock. I was used to the upbeat lifestyle of San Antonio and was suddenly thrown into a college town that I knew little about. I am an identical twin, and I had never been apart from my sister up until this point, so not having her within arms reach was an odd feeling. I felt as if I was losing my mind because I had no idea how to live on my own, but then I realized that everyone else around me was feeling the exact same way.
Sophomore year I feel like I finally had my feet on the ground with the whole “college” student thing. I learned about time management and how to adjust my schedule to balance school and friendships. I found out the hard way that procrastination is not the best idea when it comes to getting work done, and it is smarter to go to class, even if the professors say it is not mandatory. This year was the point in which I transitioned from living in a dorm to officially having my own big-girl apartment. I learned the importance of roommate communication, the ins and outs of keeping my space around me tidy as well as the common areas. I found out that not everything needs to go in the dishwasher, and yes, sometimes it is still wet when it’s done. I found that I liked having a routine, something to keep my mind busy and organized, but not too busy, or else my social battery would run out. I found that having those nights where you don’t feel like going out is okay, you’re not going to miss out if you stay in for an entire weekend.
Junior year I moved into a house with five of my closest friends. It was an experience like no other. Constant laughs and memories made. This was also the year I found A-line: A creative outlet for me to write about topics that I am passionate about, gain experience working with others, and see how an actual magazine is made behind the scenes. I would say this is when my college experience peaked. I reached a point where I felt content with my relationships, I knew what was expected of me for my classes, and learned to prioritize work that needed to be done –or could wait until after I finished the final season of Vanderpump Rules. I acquired the knowledge of living with six girls; dishes will pile up in the sink, and there will definitely be cups and plates left out after a night at Northgate, but THAT’S OKAY! As the years passed, I found the excitement when my parents would come into town grow stronger and stronger. It's true what they say– you don’t realize how much you miss something until you don’t see it every day. I developed an admiration for movie nights and late-night laughs with my roommates because it's something to be cherished forever; college is not going to last a lifetime.
Senior year was all about making as many memories as possible. I tried to say yes more than I usually would, especially since I am not going back to school after I graduate. I made so many more friendships by getting involved in things such as A-Line and holding positions in my sorority and venturing out from the normal situations that I had become accustomed to in the previous years. I feel as though senior year marked a turning point for me, as I am beginning to realize just how much my college experience has made me mature and grow. I am able to hold conversations with older individuals better, I am closer than I ever was with my family, and I prioritize things differently than when I was a freshman. I grappled with every moment of reminiscing with my friends this year– taking mental pictures on trips, having our daily movie nights, or chuckling at 12 in the morning because we’re all watching TikTok videos that we sent each other and trying to explain why we think it's hilarious. This year is all about being jam-packed with activities during the final two weeks leading up to graduation, planning pickleball games, bar crawls, dinner parties, and graduation pictures where everyone can be in attendance.
The key takeaway that I have learned from this entire experience is to make as many friends as possible, whether that be in classes, where you live, or what you’re involved in. It’s important to keep these friendships alive, so text or call those people you haven’t talked to in a while, go on walks, go to dinner, etc, but make sure to keep those flames burning. I would also say to not procrastinate, it’s not worth the stress of doing work the day before it's due. If anything, I suggest starting an assignment early and working on it sparingly, then coming back to it and reworking some things before it's due. Create a portfolio of your work, this helps in the long run, especially for job searching. You will put a ton of effort into most of your assignments, so take the ones you are proud of and put them into a website or PDF document to be shared later in life. Have those silly PowerPoint nights where you come up with the most outlandish topics for you and your friends to have a laugh. Take as many videos and pictures as possible and save messages that resonate with you.
College is the laughter roaring from your living room during the morning after Northgate debrief, its music blaring from the party rocker speaker as you and your roommates are getting ready, the screams of annoyance because no one can take a good picture, the smell of Gumby's pizza rolls at two in the morning, Taylor Swift’s newest albums blasting in the car with all the windows down, feeling tears stream down your face when you have the “senior year realization,” and the thought that you probably would not have met the people you surround yourself with today if it wasn’t for the school you’re at. With that being said, live your college years with no regret, keep those memories sacred, and hug your friends (they probably need it).
Written by Alexa Davis, Social Media: Sofia Mora