My First Semester Favorites
I recently finished up my first semester of college and am excited to share some of my favorite moments. Navigating your first semester as a college student can be difficult. For many, it’s your first time living on your own, your first time being away from home, and a roller coaster of ups and downs. Despite this, there are so many memories that are being made along the way that make your college experience one to remember.
Favorite Moments from First Semester:
Football games! One of the best parts of being a student at Iowa is getting to experience the college sports atmosphere. Whether the Hawkeyes are winning or losing, Kinnick stadium is a great place to be.
My favorite football game this semester was the one against Michigan. My friends and I got front-row seats in the student section for this game. I had never watched a game that close to the field before, so it was a really great experience. Not only did we have the best seats, but we also got free Iowa hats!
Football fan or not, Saturdays in Iowa City are the place to be. Nothing beats walking around campus and seeing thousands of other Hawkeye fans dressed in black and gold on their way to support their team. Tailgating before and after games, cheering on the hawks, watching the talented cheerleaders, and spending time with friends and family are just a few things that add to the joy of being a Hawkeye.
This semester, I also went to a few basketball games, both men’s and women’s, and the Iowa vs Iowa State wrestling meet. Carver-Hawkeye Arena is so fun to be in, especially during the instate rivalry games! I would definitely recommend attending at least one basketball game and wrestling meet while on campus!
Student orgs! Some of my favorite memories from this semester were the ones I made with friends I meet through the student organizations I’m involved in.
My Medicus club had a few socials this semester including one at Molly’s Cupcakes! I got to spend an afternoon meeting and talking with other students and learning about their work experience, organizations they were involved in, and what fields of medicine they were interested in, all while enjoying some free cupcakes.
Pancakes! During finals weeks, the IMU (Iowa Memorial Union) hosts tons of different events for students including breakfasts, snacks, massages, emotional support animals, yoga, etc. Finals can be a really stressful and busy time, which is why it’s so nice to have fun activities to do to help you relax. One of the events this year was a free pancake breakfast. A whole team came in and spent all morning making some of the best pancakes I have ever had! My roommate and I went and enjoyed some pancakes before we started studying for the day.
Movie Night! One of my favorite ways to relax after a long week is to watch a movie with friends. My favorite movie night this semester was when some friends and I watched Top Gun Maverick. We cooked some frozen pizzas and ate snacks all night long! Little moments like this are what make your semester memorable!
Wilson’s Apple Orchard! During one of the first few weeks of the semester, some of my friends and I took a drive down to Wilson’s Apple Orchard. Located just a few minutes outside Iowa City, Wilson’s is truly beautiful during the fall.
We walked through their little shop and ordered some apple cider and apple donuts! We enjoyed these while sitting on picnic tables that overlooked the orchard. The weather, view, and food were so good!
Since we went on a Friday night, we got to ride the tractor ride for free! It took us down into the trees, through a stream, and around the orchard. I had such a great time laughing with friends and relaxing away from campus.
Hurts Donut! After a long week of classes, midterms, and college life in general, my friend and I would drive over to Hurts Donut. It was so hard to decide which delicious-looking donuts I wanted to try that week. My favorite one so far is the S’mores!
There’s no doubt that college can be hard. Navigating friends, relationships, living situations, and classes can be a lot for anyone to handle. That’s why it’s important to find friends and events that help take your stress away, even if it’s only for a little while. Memories you make at college will last you a lifetime!
