Starting off college, it is common to begin your journey with preconceived notions based on what other people have told you about the school and community. I was told that my school’s campus life was not that vibrant and that there was nothing to do but study. From an academic standpoint, I was led to believe that my coursework would be largely determined by a fixed sequence of classes given to me by my academic advisor. I was also told opportunities outside of class were scarce; research would be difficult to attain and social clubs should pertain to my future career. However, I quickly realized that my college trajectory was not already set in stone and all it took was a little persistence to build my own personalized experience.
During my first semester, we had an advising class where we were given a plan of what classes to take in order to graduate on time. Looking at that plan, I knew it wasn’t for me. One of my goals entering college was to take additional business courses because I wanted to learn how to run a business instead of scrambling to figure it out once thrown into the workforce. After much juggling and rearranging, I fit the necessary classes in. Although my sequence of classes didn’t follow what everyone else was taking, I knew that this plan was the best for my long-term goals. Plus, the silver lining was that I ended up meeting a lot of new people by taking classes out of the “normal” sequence, many of whom are my closest friends to this day.
Another goal entering college was to participate in undergraduate research to gain hands-on lab experience. It proved difficult and upon looking into different labs and asking if there was space in some of the ones that sounded interesting, I received a few nos… After receiving no response to the initial email I sent a professor and a follow-up email, I caught him after class to ask about research opportunities, to which I got an encouraging, “Maybe.” Months went by without further confirmation. I felt discouraged because it didn’t seem like it would happen. Then one day, it did. I was given the opportunity to apply for his lab, and the professor reached out offering a spot. Although it took over a year to go from several nos to a few maybes, finally to a yes, the persistence was worth it in acquiring a much wanted part of my college experience.
Not only did my perspective about academics change, but so did my perspective on the allegedly lackluster campus life. I quickly learned that enjoying life on campus is what you make of it and began prioritizing the incorporation of fun and self-care into my daily routine. During my first club fair, I went in with the intention of finding clubs for professional development that would help me in my future career. Besides a few that catered to my professional development goals, I also stumbled across various other clubs that piqued my interest that had nothing to do with my major or future career. I joined a sewing club that not only gave me much needed breaks from studying, but also allowed me to pursue my passion for working creatively. I also started a face painting club because I thoroughly enjoyed being a volunteer face painter at a local Trunk or Treat event. This, yet again, allowed me to pursue a creative hobby just for fun. Academics are a priority, but throughout college I have learned to prioritize myself and my personal interests as well. People told me that campus life at my school wasn’t that vibrant, but I disagree. There’s always something happening on-campus or in the surrounding community, and you just have to put in the effort to find activities that you enjoy. It took time to feel at peace with doing completely selfish activities solely meant for my pleasure. In the long run, it has made my college experience so much more enjoyable.
The moral of the story is that your college experience is what you make of it. Filling your journey with the opportunities and passions of your choosing can be difficult, but will ultimately create an experience that fulfills your needs and desired outcomes. By honestly evaluating what I wanted out of my college experience and following my true passions, I was able to craft a journey that I wholeheartedly love. While I still have a long way to go until my college experience is over, I am confident in the choices I made to craft a personalized experience that not only suited my needs and interests, but also prepared me for my future goals.
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Katlyn graduated from Blair High School in 2023 and is currently a second-year student at the University of the Pacific, majoring in Pre-Dentistry with a minor in Management. To maximize her college experience, Katlyn has made an effort to be active on campus. She currently works for Residential Life and Housing as a resident assistant (RA), participates in research focused on the effects of climate change on Trichoptera in specific creeks of Northern California, and is involved in several professional and leisure student organizations. Katlyn first attended CAP in her junior year of high school to receive help with resume building. After that, Katlyn attended CAP’s drop-in sessions regularly for guidance on the college application process, scholarship searches, and essay writing. The support she received from CAP was invaluable, helping Katlyn every step of the way. Grateful for the guidance she received, Katlyn is excited to give back by being part of the CAP Advisory Council, where she hopes to provide advice on making the most out of a college experience.