For the past few weeks, I’ve been learning how to balance classes and two jobs. It’s been an adjustment, but I love the flexibility of the jobs that allow me to work around my class schedule. I work as a desk clerk at one of the residence halls and I’m a metacognition mentor for a college algebra class where I give feedback to students on their metacognition journals. So far, I love both of my jobs because of the co-workers I’ve met and the actual workload of the jobs isn’t too demanding compared to my food service job that I worked at during high school.

However, I have found myself struggling to balance my schedule. The biggest issue I’ve found is my sleep schedule is poor. On average, I’m getting about 6 to 7 hours of sleep because I wake up either once or twice in the middle of the night. The best thing that I found to combat this issue of sleeping in, is to leave my blinds open so that the natural sunshine is in my face and forces me to get up in the morning. Having a consistent bedtime has helped as well because I know that an hour beforehand, I should start my night routine such as packing my backpack, charging all my electronics, and spending some time reading before I sleep to unwind.

Routines are so important in college, and planning out my day has helped me feel less overwhelmed with my schedule. I find that Monday through Wednesday are my busiest days, with my mornings free on Monday & Tuesday where I allocate that time towards doing homework and studying. However, Tuesday and Thursday are the days that I have the time to sleep in so I’m usually not awake until 10 or even 11 am. Despite the challenges I’ve faced so far in the semester, recognizing these struggles early on is the best thing I could do for myself because now I know what I need to work on. Since coming back to college, I’ve been in such a better headspace than I was a year ago because of the friends I’ve made and the communities I have surrounded myself in.

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Since coming to Iowa, I’ve been welcomed with open arms by the Salt Company and Veritas community. My faith has always been a part of my life, but until three years ago I wasn’t an active member of my church community. Here in Iowa, I’ve been going to Sunday service and Salt on Thursday nights at Veritas Church in Tiffin. The community here has been so wonderful and I want to share the opportunities I’ve gotten to experience that I may have not gotten if I had chosen a different college.

In September, I was invited to the fall retreat. That weekend was so much fun and helped me grow closer to the girls in my connection group. I wrote about this trip earlier this year so if you want to read more about the fall retreat, go read that post.

Before winter break, my connection group had a mug exchange where we all bought a mug and did a white elephant where we went around and fought over certain mugs that we wanted. It was fun to see all the different mugs people brought at the end because all of them were so cute.

A few weeks ago I started doing Veritas Kids on Tuesday mornings because Veritas hosts a women’s bible study that morning so I get to watch the kids while their moms are at the study. At first, it was rough since the two-year-olds were crying because they missed their moms, but the past two weeks have been mostly tear-free. They’ve gotten comfortable with being there and I’ve enjoyed watching over them because they’re so sweet and cute. I’ll read with them or color next to them, however, their favorite thing by far is the bubble machine.

Lastly, this past Sunday I got the opportunity to attend Homeiz’s which is where freshmen are invited to someone’s house within the Veritas community to enjoy a meal together with other freshmen. At first, I hesitated about going, but the idea of eating a home-cooked meal and meeting new people sounded like a great experience. I was assigned to visit one of the Salt staff members home and she was a wonderful host.

While there I and a few other freshmen and some Salt leaders drove us there, ate tacos, and had a great conversation. We talked about our current reads, favorite movies, and what college has been like this semester.

Going to Homeiz was a great experience and one I would love to do again if given the chance. I got to meet some sweet girls who I’d met before but didn’t know that well going into the dinner. I’m glad I got to eat a meal with them and chat since all of us are in different connection groups.

Coming to college was scary at first, but having a faith community that supported me was something that I needed. I have such a close relationship with my friends and the community at my hometown church, so leaving that behind was harder than I thought. What I love about Veritas compared to my hometown church is that everyone there understands the struggles of being a college student because they either are one now or have been and know what it’s like. My hometown church’s youth group was similar in that way, but it’s different because everyone’s in high school besides the adult volunteers and I can’t relate to them as much as I used to.

Overall, having a community whether it’s a place or a group of friends, is important to have when at college. For most students, it’s their first time being away from home and there are certain expectations that you’re supposed to follow. My first semester of college had a few bumps in the road, but I made it to the other side, and for me, that wouldn’t have been possible without Veritas.

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As we head into the new year I have a few goals that I plan on following over the year and into the future. When I made New Year resolutions or goals in the past, I’ve always made a giant list that was hard to keep track of. This year, I’ve decided to keep it short and focus my attention on four different goals.

The first goal of mine is to find time to be in God’s presence whether that is through prayer or reading my bible. My faith has become such a huge part of my life since my junior year of high school and I want to continue my relationship with God every day.

My second goal is to become a reader. I’ve always enjoyed reading but making time to read a book for fun is difficult. However, as long as I read a few pages a day I’ll be able to call myself a reader. Reading at least one book a month is my goal and so far I’m about halfway through that goal. I’m currently reading Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams. So far, I’m enjoying the book more than I thought. I won’t give any spoilers but if you like a slow burn and small-town romance story then this book is perfect for you. It’s about this bodyguard, Will, who is assigned to watch over this famous pop singer in a small town in Kentucky. The singer is about to marry this guy and his sister, Annie, owns a flower shop in the small town and Will can’t stop thinking about her. I primarily read romance books, but this year I want to dive into mystery books, especially the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series by Holly Jackson.

My third goal is an obvious one to achieve good grades. I currently have a 3.3 GPA and I want to keep it in the 3.0-3.5 range so that I can get into the business program and prove to myself that I have the capability of succeeding. I’ve always been motivated to get good grades and that’s because I love learning. From an early age, I found myself to be curious about how the world works. I wanted to become a teacher, an author, and a journalist, but I landed on majoring in business specifically marketing and advertising because I’m constantly on social media looking at advertisements. Our world runs on businesses producing products and finding new ways to market and advertise those products.

My fourth and final goal is to be organized. I’ve always been an organized person who loves making to-do lists. However, I find myself lacking at times. I’ll wait until the last minute to do my laundry or simply become lazy and ignore tasks such as doing my skincare or not studying enough for an upcoming test. When I have my life and room organized, I feel at peace. I’m able to thrive in my environment when I have a plan. I don’t always stick to my plan exactly, but when I have clear intentions for the day set, I’m able to get all my tasks done and on time.

As you head into the new year, think about at least three to four manageable goals that you can focus on this year. When we set clear intentions at the beginning of the year, month, week, or day, we can shape our lives to become the life we want for ourselves piece by piece.

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My first semester of college was not what I expected. I went into college not sure what I wanted to do but with my history, there were a few things on my list that I was interested in continuing. One of those things was finding a job in Iowa City either on campus or not, which did not happen. I had applied to one or two jobs and was offered a position but based on my or their schedules, they weren’t offering me enough hours. However, I did work at my job back at home over Thanksgiving break and plan to work over winter break. I also applied to work for The Daily Iowan but I didn’t hear back from them about an interview. Instead, I joined this blog where I get to share about my college experience.

Back at home, I was involved in my church youth group. We meet weekly and during our meetings, we talk about our weeks and plan for upcoming retreats during the school year. When I came to campus I was overwhelmed with how many ministries Iowa offered both on and off campus. Yet, I connected with Salt the most and since going there and my weekly bible study with the Navigators, I have found myself much more connected to my faith. Both these communities have brought me some amazing friends and I love hanging out with them whether that is in our bible study or connection group.

I knew that I was going to be homesick and I was homesick the majority of the time, however, I enjoyed living on my own. I had complete freedom on how my day would go and had no obligations besides taking an exam or the occasional meeting with my academic advisor. With this freedom came a lot of responsibility like taking my trash out. I always waited until the last minute to take my trash out which would usually be around two to three weeks’ worth of wrappers, tissues, and empty Amazon boxes.

Spending money for me wasn’t too much of an issue. Sure, I bought new clothes and a weekly iced chai latte, but I mainly ate at the dining hall for every meal. I barely went out to eat for fast food or even restaurant food unless a friend invited me or there was a special going on such as a $6 entree at Chipotle on Halloween.

Not having access to a car is what restricted my freedom in some ways because I had to rely on public transportation. Since it was my first semester and everything was new, I explored a little but not a lot because I was afraid of getting lost or stranded. I went on the Coralville bus once I think to get to a volleyball game but that was about it.

However, I ride the cambus everywhere especially because I live at Mayflower. For the first month, I probably walked a few times to the main campus and back until the warm weather disappeared. I have a hate and love relationship with cambus because at times its whereabouts are inaccurate or the fact that there are limited routes on the weekends which makes getting to campus hard sometimes. Having to plan out when to leave so that I catch the bus on time has been a struggle for me this semester.

Overall, my first semester of college wasn’t so bad but it was one crazy rollercoaster ride of emotions. One day I was happy and the next I was just exhausted. College gives you so much free time that you have to use it wisely or you’ll get behind. When I procrastinate things they pill up and cause me to feel frustrated and overwhelmed.

As I head into my second semester next year, here are some things I plan on changing. First, I want to explore the campus more. I chose Iowa because the campus was so pretty and the way it was laid out in connection with downtown Iowa City. I hope to explore the campus more and the surrounding area such as Coralville when the weather gets warmer. Going to a women’s basketball game is also on my bucket list and hopefully, I’ll get to do it with my dad when he comes to visit.

My sleep schedule is a priority of mine next semester. I have an 8:30 class twice a week and to make it to class on time I’ll have to adjust my sleeping schedule. I’m naturally a night owl so I tend to stay up too late and this is a habit I want to change next semester.

Lastly, I want to make some new friends. I haven’t found my group of friends yet or the people I can count on to hang out with whenever. I hope next semester I find the friends I’m searching for. Surface-level friendships only last so long and I hate to say it but I’ve lost friends this semester, one of them being my roommate. As much as I enjoy my dorm to myself, a new roommate would be great to have and maybe we’ll become good friends. Whatever the future holds for me, I can’t wait to see what happens.

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Since being at college, the week off for Thanksgiving break was my second time visiting home. This break was very much needed because college has not been an easy transition for me. I knew that spending some time at home and away from the daily stressors and responsibilities would be beneficial.

While being at home, I spent a lot of my time helping my family. I drove and picked up my sister from volleyball practice and racked leaves with my father where I enjoyed the cool, brisk fall weather for the last time.

In addition to doing chores at home, I was able to work about 20 hours at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. I worked there for about 14 months prior to attending college and will be working there as a seasonal employee. I was working with new co-workers during the week who were all nice and good company. I missed working more than I thought and not just for the money. I missed interacting with people and seeing their smiles when they sipped their smoothies.

Over my break, I spent time seeing my friends who are still in high school as well as my best friend from my childhood. Whether it was getting food or going to Target, I enjoyed hanging out with my friends. It was nice to catch up with them and talk about how school was going for us. While I didn’t get to see all my friends, I’m glad for the ones I did see. Within three weeks I’ll be back home where I already have plans set to see them.

The biggest joy of the whole week was getting to hang out with my sister. Our relationship has always been fluctuating in the sense that at times we were best friends and the next day we were enemies. Either way, I love her so much and miss her deeply. Being able to hang out with her at my friend’s hockey game and watching the new Hunger Games movie with her, were memories I am glad I got to experience with her.

While the break was short and over now, it gave me time to reflect on what I love the most about these two places I call home. My hometown is where my family and friends are. The familiarity of my hometown brings me happiness and is a place I can always run back to if I need to. Iowa City though has given me such amazing communities to be a part of and allowed me to pursue my education on my own terms.

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A part of me misses the way my life was prior to coming to college. I had fewer responsibilities and it was easier to access things. Now I rely on the Cambus and walk to get to places such as Starbucks or class rather than hopping in my parent’s car and driving to my destination.

Whether I’m in class, studying, or eating meals at the dining hall, I spend a good chunk of my time alone. This same feeling is relatable to a lot of college students. My friends have expressed their feelings of homesickness and their struggles with living on their own.

I myself, have struggled with homesickness. One of the reasons why I chose to attend the University of Iowa was because if I wanted to visit my family or have them visit me, that option was available. While I did apply to colleges closer to home, the closest being a 45-minute drive, I knew that I had to get out of my shell.

Since starting college in August, I have seen my family three times. I visited my family over Labor Day weekend at my grandparent’s cottage up in Wisconsin which has always felt like a home away from home to me. Two weeks later my family came up for a weekend and we went to the Western Michigan football game. And then a week ago I went home for the weekend.

My family were originally planning to come and visit me for the Minnesota football game but my dad had conflicting plans the next day and the hotel prices were not cheap. We came to the conclusion that it was cheaper for me to visit them and this past weekend worked for both of our schedules. My bus tickets costed around $130 for a direct round trip.

I left for my trip on Friday afternoon. I was nervous to take the bus because it was a new experience for me, but I was also excited to see my family. My sister had no idea that I was visiting this weekend and I was excited to surprise her.

When I opened the door to my house the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. My sister was right there at the front door and was so surprised to see me. Seeing her face and her crying made my heart melt because me and my sister have such a wonderful relationship. It took years of fighting to realize that she was my built-in best friend.

After eating my dinner we drove to my friend’s hockey game. While there I got to catch up with my other friends that had invited me. It felt good to catch up with them since we don’t talk much over text. The next day was my sister’s volleyball tournament, which was uneventful because her team dominated the other schools and won every match. Afterward, my sister joined me to run a few errands. Driving in the car with my sister is something that I missed a lot more than I realized. Driving was such a big part of my life because it was a struggle for me to learn and was something I did every day. Now, I rely on the Cambus and friends to get me places which is so surreal after driving myself everywhere.

Saturday evening I met my friend at her Uncle’s house where her cousin was having her birthday party. My friend’s cousin was turning four and it was a costume party which just warmed my heart seeing the kids dressed up. My friend and I spent an hour there and then left and went thrifting and grabbed cookies to bake back at her house. As the cookies baked in the oven, we put on Get Out which is a thriller movie streaming on Netflix.

Sunday morning my family and I went to church where I saw my friend that played hockey on Friday night. It felt good to catch up with him since we don’t talk over text much either. Unfortunately, I was not able to talk to him long because I had plans with another friend. I met my other friend at Cane’s for lunch and we had such an amazing conversation together. After lunch, the two of us went to Walmart where she grabbed a quilt for her bed. Afterward, I spent the rest of the day chilling at home and enjoying my parents and my dog’s company.

Monday morning my bus was scheduled to leave at 12 pm so my parents took me and my sister out for breakfast since she had the day off from school for Columbus Day.

Overall, visiting home was a success. I did everything that I was planning to do and more which felt good. I don’t plan to see my family again until Thanksgiving break which may seem like a long time from now but with academics and my social life, time will go by faster than I think. If the homesickness starts to affect your ability to study or see friends then take a weekend trip home or call your parents or your sibling. I call my mom at least once a week just to tell her how’s life going and see how’s volleyball going for my sister.

Whenever I feel homesick I remind myself that family is forever. In this chapter of my life, I have to do it without my family and while that seems scary, it just makes the moments with them so much more sweeter.

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Growing up, I have always admired how welcoming the people are in the Midwest. I grew up in a suburb outside of Chicago and attended high school with over 3,000 students. No matter where I was, the community was always welcoming. I had built meaningful friendships and was inspired by many teachers there. Community has always been something I searched for and I found it at my high school through my journalism class and at the youth group at my local church. 

That same feeling of community that I felt back home was presented to me at Iowa during the On Iowa! program. I was provided so many opportunities for me to get involved and interact with my fellow classmates. The week allowed me to meet people in my residence hall as well as those who have the same major as me. 

Besides the people, I have also had the chance this week to explore the dining halls and buildings that the campus offers. One of the reasons why I chose to come to Iowa was because of the beautiful campus and access to downtown Iowa City. Having a Target near campus even though small, has been a real help when needing those life essentials I didn’t realize I needed before I started college.

My favorite On Iowa! activity was probably dancing at Hubbard Park at the Silent Disco. I was familiar with the concept because of social media but for those who don’t know, a silent disco is where people gather and wear headphones that play music instead of listening to music through speakers. At the Disco you had three different DJs playing music at the same time and the headphones allowed you to switch through the channels and adjust the volume. I spent the whole night changing channels because each DJ had songs that I enjoyed. There were times when me and my friends listened to the same DJ and other times we didn’t, but that was what made the experience so cool. No matter what DJ you were listening to, you still sang the lyrics and danced. I’m so glad that I was able to go because it was such an easy social experience that I loved and would do again.

Another On Iowa! event I attended was the Pitch Perfect movie night at the Iowa Memorial Union. I had seen the movie before but it was still enjoyable to watch. I loved how the audience and I reacted to the movie whether we clapped or laughed. After Pitch Perfect, a bunch of girls and I headed outside to the River Amphitheater where Thursdays on the Terrace was being held. That night they had students singing karaoke with a live band playing the song as well.

The next day my friends and I headed to Kickoff at Kinnick which took me by surprise. I was expecting all of us to sit in the bleachers and was looking forward to it after I had walked half a mile to get to the stadium but instead, we all gathered on the field. It felt surreal to be on the football field instead of in the audience. What I loved about the Kickoff was learning the Fight Song and shouting I-O-W-A in the different corners of the stadium. I was lucky enough to get the season tickets so I’m looking forward to game days.

The block I photo with the class of 2027 on Sunday was brutal. It was a hot day but in the end, the photo was worth it. Having that photo as a memory that I get to look back on will make the journey worthwhile. Struggling through exams will not compare to the simple discomfort I felt that day. I know I have bigger battles ahead of me, but I’m ready for it.

I have been lucky enough to have made some good friends so far and found communities that are welcoming me with open arms. Iowa is a school that wants its students to thrive and that might mean being uncomfortable. Whether it’s the 90-degree weather or studying for a midterm, it will all be worth it for the good memories that lie ahead.

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