September in a Nutshell

Posted on

There is a song called “September in the Rain.” I’ve always enjoyed its tune, but I was wary of the title. September has never struck me as rainy.

Boy was I wrong. It’s been downpouring for three weeks straight, and to say I’m ready for some sunshine is an understatement. A couple of Fridays ago, the rain was so heavy that water was flowing on the road. It’s been a hassle walking from place to place, even with a semi-functioning umbrella. Speaking of which, I got a new umbrella 🙂

I’ve discovered some strategies to stay dry, though. One of them is to cut through buildings; this helps reduce the amount of time spent outside between classes. Another strategy is…I guess I don’t have another strategy yet, but I will soon! Stay tuned for that 👀

The rainy weather wasn’t the only new thing in store for me this month. I went to my first football game as a Hawkeye, specifically Cy-Hawk! It was so much fun, and the Hawkeye win was the cherry on top! I didn’t realize how long of an ordeal football games can be. From tailgating to commuting to watching the game, the time totaled around 8 hours. There were many beautiful moments during the game! I got to witness the marching band’s tribute to Derek Phillips, which was moving. I enjoyed the wave at the end of the first quarter and the drone show at halftime as well!

As for academics, I had my first midterm last week. I was nervous since I didn’t know what to expect. However, I felt pretty good while taking the exam. I’ve found attending Supplemental Instruction sessions to be helpful, so to anyone considering it, I would totally recommend going! I have more midterms coming soon, so I am trying to balance studying with completing my assignments.

On the music side, I joined Iowa Agni, the South Asian Fusion a cappella team here, and I’m very excited about this year’s competition set! Even in the short time we’ve spent rehearsing so far, I can tell that people in Agni are passionate and genuinely care about each other. I am grateful to have found such a supportive and creative community!

That’s my September in a nutshell!

Until we meet again!

Siddhi

Continue Reading →

Happy to Be a Hawkeye

Posted on

As I reflect on my first few weeks at Iowa, I can’t help but wonder how move-in was only three weeks ago. So much has happened since then, and I thought I would share some highlights with you!

First Day:

Move-in day came with a lot of excitement and nerves about this big change in my life. Part of me didn’t feel ready, but I knew that going to college is an important step in becoming a better version of myself. 

I remember hearing a knock on my door during that first night in the dorms. I opened it to see ten of my floormates standing outside. Upon conversing with them, I immediately felt at ease. I realized that while I was away from my family, I could build one at Iowa.

Making Memories Early-On:

My On Iowa! week commenced with an enriching Honors Primetime session about lead in water. Over the course of three days, I took water samples from various locations around campus, tested their lead levels using a spectrometer, toured the Iowa Advanced Technologies laboratory, and researched the health effects of heavy metals in water. Based on our findings, the best places to fill your water bottle on campus are the Art Building, College of Public Health, and Tippie College of Business!

Throughout the week, I attended several fun events, including the Silent Disco, Bingo, Thursdays at the IMU, and Kickoff at Kinnick, which stood out. Getting to experience the stadium from the turf, being surrounded by my entire class, and taking part in my first Wave are all experiences I will never forget. 

The memories made during On Iowa! Week didn’t stop with the events, though. My floormates and I had plenty of fun with each other! We threw a birthday party with balloons and a piñata, courtesy of a trip to CVS. We even managed to turn supposed inconveniences into enjoyable experiences. In fact, we played Just Dance during a power outage! Attempting to recreate the complex poses in the dance routines brought lots of laughter, and we succeeded at a few of them!

Adjusting to Classes:

I have an 8:30 am class that meets three days a week, and I’m enjoying the peaceful morning walk from my dorm to the lecture hall. I’ve found the content in my classes to be fascinating. The professors cover niche topics and dive further into the material. There haven’t been many assignments yet, but there’s quite a bit of textbook reading. However, the textbooks help me think more deeply about and draw connections to what I’m learning in lecture. 

I am enjoying the newfound freedom that college brings. Having breaks in between classes has been wonderful; I get to decide when I eat, study, exercise, and hang out with friends. I’m still in the process of figuring out a routine that works for me, but I’m sure it will come with time. 

Until we meet again!
Siddhi

Continue Reading →