My Year in Review
It’s surreal to think that my freshman year has just ended. Although I have summer school and am taking 12 s.h. over the summer (3 general education online courses, one of which is also a required Dance Major course and one in-person Dance Major course), it’s crazy to think that I have spent approximately 10 months here in Iowa City and taken 50 s.h. since university started. (I am well aware that over the course of two semesters, the norm and typical max number of s.h. is 36). I feel in awe of the fact that I have come so far in my freshman year, made so many friends, performed in so many dance productions and recieved good grades.
And yet, even though I can barely believe it, I know that it is true. Even starting spring semester felt like a such a change from the fall; I felt so much more comfortable around my classmates, in the dorms, in the library, with my friends. This year has been monumental for my growth and independence and I truly feel as though this year is one for the records.
Where to start….
I would have to say that my biggest highlight of the year was getting to do the things that I love, day in and day out. During both semesters, I was fortunate enough to have both ballet and modern dance every single day and Creative Writing and/or english classes every two to three days as well. During Fall semester, I had a Harry Potter class and during the Spring semester, I had both a Creative Writing course and a Neo-Victorian one that included detective works that completely satisfied my love for mystery. Although I had to put in a lot of effort and time to do well in my classes, I love what I’m doing so much that it doesn’t feel like hard work; it is the most fun I’ve had learning ever!
The second biggest highlight would probably be getting to meet new people who love the same things that I do and people whose interests are completely unrelated to mine! It’s amazing to dance in the same room as people who want to dance every day and to spend some of my weekend free time with people who I befriended at during International Student Orientation!!! Friends are incredibly important in ensuring that we feel safe and secure; friends are my home away from my home. Just knowing that I have people whom I can count on really bolsters me when I am feeling down.
Thirdly is all the performances I’ve been in and had the opportunity to watch. Since coming to the University of Iowa, I have participated in Iphigenia Point Blank (the film opera), Collaborative Performance, the Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz concert (in collaboration with the School of Music), Crash Dance Production (in conjunction with the School of Engineering), the MFA Dance Concert and one of the Choreography IV pieces on pointe. I was even cast in Dancers in Company, the University of Iowa’s travelling tour company for the upcoming year of 2019-2020. I am extremely excited for future performances and can’t wait to see what opportunities come my way!
In regard to the performances that I was able to watch, I’m beyond thrilled to declare that I was able to what the American Ballet Theatre performing Whipped Cream at Hancher, Ailey II dancing at the Englert Theatre and so on. I even have the opportunity to dance with Threads Dance Performance during the Iowa Arts Festival next month! The possibilities are endless and worthy of a thousand heart-eye emojis….
I also love the bookish events that I have been going to. I got published twice in both the Fall and Spring editions of Ink Lit Magazine as well as being on the editorial team, starting the fulfilment of my dream to be a published author. Aside from this, I went to many live readings at Prairie Lights, the Dey House and Barnes & Noble in Coralville, where I met authors whom I love, including Brittany Cavallaro, writer of the Charlotte Holmes series! Iowa City is really the UNESCO City of Literature and I can’t wait to continue to grow and advance in these areas.
The best thing about the University of Iowa is that it has opened up these incredible possibilities for me. As much as I love Malaysia and all the opportunities back home, there is no way that I could have experienced half of the things that I have enjoyed here this past year. Coming to the university has been a dream come reality and I cannot wait to see what my next three years have in store.