As a graduate of my university, I vowed
never to return to the campus after four long arduous years of hard work and
dedication. College life was complicated to say the least. Each year, from
freshman to senior, had its own theme of complexity. Starting from the worst,
freshman year, everything was new. It truly was an adjustment period in which
my life took a sudden U turn for the worst and then came down slowly to peace
over my second summer. Many emotions were felt that year, ranging from death to
love and everything truly in between. Many relationships dissolved and new ones
acquired; change of environment and mind set on certain topics. New vices, I
never thought I'd get involved in. And all of that doesn't even cover the
eleven classes I enrolled in throughout that year. Academically, freshman year
was my worst year, obviously, with everything else that was going on, my grades
suffered. Thankfully, there was still a lot of time to recover.
Recovery: I would use that word to
describe sophomore year. That year was the year to correct myself academically,
physically, and mentally. Most, if not all the drama of the previous year had
subsided and I was able to shift my focus. Under a plethora of science and math
courses, I was able to distract myself with those adored subjects. People
always mention which was there favorite class in college, I had two, and they
were both in sophomore year. Physics; it was the first time I ever took an
actual physics class, and just the atmosphere and challenges it provided were
enough to make up for that horrendous previous year. Physics did not do it
alone, however. My other classes helped as well and I even made it into the
dean’s list that year. A great achievement I thought would never happen.
Mentally, I took that year to relax. I did not allow most anything to bother
me. One could say I merely went with the flow of things, never allowing myself
to be bothered by petty or great things alike.
Finally, junior year arrived; this is the
year where I got more into my major. CS of course, I couldn’t think of anything
better to study. This was a fast one, almost a blur, but my courses slowed down
in difficulty allowing for a more social year of friends and computer games. Most
weekends were spent either studying or hanging out with my love and with
friends. It was a good calm year, one very necessary to relax the stress of the
previous two. This year, I grew up more, my self-esteem slowly climbing and my
obnoxious shyness deteriorating. Then surely, the academic year ended, and
senior year came to its start. This was the year of the working woman.
Academically, it was once again challenging and stressful. Classes were packed
with large projects and presentations; nothing I couldn’t handle but it was a
challenge. There was a slight hiccup or distraction if you will, throughout
this year, but however, it did not come to affect anything (thankfully). So I
do not regret it at all. The second half of the year, I became employed. That
was another great achievement. Another set of stressful months balancing work,
school, and life. But as everything from the past three years, I got through
it. No problem!
And thus, when I finally graduated as A Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in
May, 2011, I told myself I would never come back to this dreadful place. Of
course, it was mostly the stress and excitement of the past few weeks talking
but you get the idea. And nonetheless, I recently found myself riding my
bicycle from one edge of the campus to the other, reflecting on how much it has
changed since I left, and even how much I have changed since I left. And
remembering all of our history together, just mentioned.
