College Q&A – 20 Questions
I answered 20 questions about college! If you think you want to go to college but are still looking for clarity on different things or questions you don’t know you have, give this a watch!
Experience Iowa
I answered 20 questions about college! If you think you want to go to college but are still looking for clarity on different things or questions you don’t know you have, give this a watch!
Aug.17 – move-in day!
Aug.20 – kickoff at Kinnick!
GAME DAYS!!!
Look at all of these beautiful people <3
SEPTEMBER:
OCTOBER:
NOVEMBER:
DECEMBER:
Thanks uiowa for semester 1, 7 more to go and I can’t wait!
Picture this… you move away from home for the first time of your life to live in a dorm on a college campus with some person that you met on Facebook. You’re on your own, going to college is something you’ve never done before, and you are surrounded by people you’ve never seen before. You’re in a completely unfamiliar place, experiencing something completely new. You’re thrown into this new chapter of life, you have no choice but to simply learn how things work as you go.
Looking back on my first semester, I’m so amazed and encouraged by the countless little lessons I had to learn. Some the easy way, and some the hard way. Here’s a list of a handful of things I learned so that you don’t have to! Maybe this list will answer a question you didn’t know you had, or make you even more excited to come and start your college adventure at Iowa!
1. Everyone is in the same boat.
2. Academically… you need to apply yourself to a whole new level.
3. Prioritize your meals.
4. Say YES to last-minute plans!
5. Get out of your dorm, go sit somewhere pretty.
6. Clarity is kindness.
7. Time management.
8. Your feelings are valid.
9. 3 words. The bus system.
10. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself!
I feel confident when I say that I am not the same person now compared to when I first entered college. My first semester has stretched me and forced me to grow in all aspects of life. Even with all of the mishaps and roadblocks, I honestly would not change a single thing about the way things went. Over the last few months, I’ve met people and made memories that I can’t imagine my life without. It has been the craziest, best 4 months of my life!
My roommate and I were reflecting before we came home for Christmas break and she said, “Your first semester is everything you want it to be and more, but also nothing like you thought it was going to be at the same time. And it’s outstanding.”
The daily life of a college student is way different than the daily life of a high school student. When I first moved to Iowa, this was an interesting adjustment! I took some time to film my week to give you guys a glimpse at what my schedule looks like!
College is SO great. I have already made friends that I love, and with those friends, I’ve made memories. I love all of the activities that are offered on and off-campus. I love my schedule and I love being independent. However, it is one of the biggest transitions I’ve ever gone through in my life. And sometimes with big changes come big feelings!
Homesickness, sadness, confusion, loneliness, stress, etc. Even in the midst of so much excitement, these feelings can still be valid. It’s okay to not be okay, but instead of staying stuck in these emotions, how could we take care of ourselves to push us towards personal growth?!? I’ve come up with a list of 10 practical ways we can take care of ourselves as college students!Â
I genuinely hope that at least one of these ideas resonates with you! One last thing that helps me is… sunsets! A good sunset will ALWAYS make me feel better. For me, they put life into perspective, and remind me that life is beautiful! I’ve taken pictures of some of the sunsets I’ve seen so far in Iowa City, and have inserted them for you.
Before I came into college I watched DOZENS of dorm room tour videos. I was on a desperate search for logistical and creative ways & ideas for organizing and decorating my future space!
It is so fun being on the other side of the curiosity. Now, I have my space and it is decorated and organized and personalized! Attached is my dorm tour video, let me show you around!!! 🙂
This is the story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down. And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, and tell you how I became A FRESHIE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA!!!
I was a junior in high school! I had no idea how, what, where, when, why, or who I wanted to be when I grew up. The pressure of figuring out my whole life totally weighed down on me at the time. It made me quite anxious because honestly, I don’t like change.
I had to reach a point though, where I would stop overthinking and start dreaming. THAT is where my college search began. I visited a couple campuses, Iowa actually being the first!
Here’s how it went. When we first arrived my interest was immediately sparked by all of the people welcoming me and throwing free stuff at me. There were people ready to give tours, and even Herky was running around! Next, we did the routine-college-visit thing and went on a tour. We walked down the street, into the library, around the Pentacrest, and through the T. Anne Cleary Walkway. Then, we enjoyed lunch at one of the dining halls before going to a “major fair” in the Memorial Union. At the time I had no clue what I was going to major in, so seeing hundreds of potential majors and opportunities right in front of me in a huge room ignited a huge flame of inspiration in me!
After all of the routine campus visit events. My mom and I had time to walk around on our own and reflect on the experience. I come from a tiny town in northern Iowa, so right off the bat, I was awe-struck by Iowa City and the architecture on campus. I loved the beautiful river running through campus, and how vibrant and close downtown was. My grandfather attended the University of Iowa, and when I thought of my grandpa and stared up at the Old Capitol, I became so aware of the history that exists at Iowa. And it’s the history of the university that made it come to life for me! Suddenly I knew that Iowa was so much bigger than me, and instead of that scaring me away, the opportunity to be a part of something big drew me in. I felt like this was a place that would truly allow me to grow!
That’s how I knew Iowa was for me. I always thought it was cheesy when people responded to questions about their college choice with “I just KNEW it was where I was meant to be” until I experienced it for myself. You want the place you choose for college to be somewhere that genuinely excites you and you can daydream yourself walking the streets as a student.
On the drive home from my visit, I couldn’t wait to go back. Fast forward two years and I’m a freshman psychology major walking the same sidewalks that my grandpa did! I’ve loved every second of finding my people and exploring campus and downtown. Being a first-year is so fun, and I’m excited for what these next four years will bring!
GO HAWKS!