It has been just over a month since I began classes, and nobody is pulling any punches. Let’s get into it.

I’ve been on the academic struggle bus basically the whole time I’ve been here. My classes require a lot of reading, and as part of the Campus Symphony Orchestra, I am playing the hardest music I have ever played, so I must practice a lot. Beyond preparing for class, I also have homework. Duh. This ranges from one–page papers to chatbot-generated theses to class discussion posts. Here’s my secret: this is my fault for taking an 18-credit semester, the maximum amount of credits I am allowed to take. Take it from me, try to ease into your college experience. You may have been an academic weapon in high school, and you still are! But you’re also dealing with a massive life-change! Give yourself grace and time to breathe, and don’t overburden yourself, unlike me.

Luckily, I enjoy most of my classes. My professors are all wonderful and extremely intelligent people, and I’m learning a ton. My only truly grueling class is my Spanish class. Here’s a breakdown: I am taking a 3000-level creative writing Spanish course, which means a lot of reading in Spanish. Personally, reading and writing are my weakest skills, versus listening and speaking, and so I took this class to help correct that. I had no idea what I was getting into. It’s that class of the semester. You know, the one that beats you up every time you walk in? Yeah. It’s one of those.

However, I know that it’ll pay off. I didn’t come to school to stay stagnant; I came to be challenged, and the skills I learn in this class will directly transfer to my career as a translator once I leave school. When I struggle, I try to look at the bigger picture. This is only one class, for one semester, and I am being challenged and therefore growing. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?

Beyond academics, I have had a fabulous time getting involved in student orgs! I’m loosely part of a gardening club and an outdoorsy club that takes day trips on the weekends sometimes, shoutout DIRT; The Gardening Club and Strength in Numbers. I’m actually going on a day trip with Strength in Numbers tomorrow, so maybe I’ll do a little write-up on that!

More formally, I am on the Experience Iowa Ambassadors team, which is why I am writing this blog 😉 and the Translate Iowa Project, a translation magazine, which ties directly into my Translation major. I tried out for the club soccer team here, but it is very competitive, and I didn’t make it, so I’ll be checking out the intramural scene, which is also very big here.

This is a tiny glimpse into the world of student orgs at the university. Whatever you’re into, they have it. From Greek life to sports clubs to major-oriented groups to tap dance, you can get involved, and I highly encourage it! It’s a great way to make friends, get out of the dorm, and take a break from academics. Student involvement, especially in leadership positions, also looks great on resumes.

Speaking of resumes, I got a job! I am now working at the Stanley Museum of Art, auditing classes and providing feedback on them from a student perspective. Getting a job is another way to get involved on campus or in Iowa City. It was strange to not have to work for the first month I was here, coming straight out of my summer job, but it was a relief not to have to worry about a job along with everything else for a little bit. Now, I will simply have to factor this commitment into the rest. College is like a puzzle that way—a time puzzle—and I still haven’t quite put the pieces together correctly yet. I’ll for sure let you all know when I do.

Most recently, my mom came to visit for the first time! I am originally from Milwaukee, so she drove the four hours with my little brother and stayed in Coralville last weekend. We visited the Devonian Fossil Gorge, which is full of fossils, if you couldn’t guess, from the shallow sea that used to be there. Then, I showed her around Iowa City, and the next day, we saw a volleyball game. She coaches high school volleyball and played in college, so watching the game with her really heightened the experience.

Honestly, it was just nice to spend time with my family after not seeing them for so long. It had only been a month and a half, but that is definitely the longest period I’ve ever gone without seeing them! I call my parents about once a week, though, and text them throughout the week, so that also helps with any homesickness.

I was really worried about homesickness when I moved in. I am a sentimental person, and am deeply attached to my family, so leaving them for several months at a time was a scary prospect. I alluded to it in my last blog, but I was really sad on move-in day. I anticipated saying goodbye from the moment we pulled into the Mayflower dorm parking lot, and it weighed on me until they drove away. There were lots of tears from both my mother and me, even though I told myself I wouldn’t cry. (She started it). Whatever your reaction is to being dropped off by your guardians, it’s okay. It could be a relief to be starting your own life and maybe escaping a rough one back home. It could be sadness, similar to my experience. It could be panic at starting over somewhere completely new. It could be fear, anxiety, joy, excitement, but whatever it is, sit in that feeling for a little bit. Give yourself time to process your emotions as you come into this new chapter of life. Talk to a friend back home or one you make on campus. Call your parents. Speak to a campus counselor if you’re really struggling to settle in. There are resources available to help with the college transition, so take advantage.

One way I take care of myself and restore some mental clarity when I’m upset, homesick, or stressed is by working out. I run and weight lift, but also enjoy yoga occasionally. Like I mentioned earlier, there are a plethora of sports clubs ranging in competitiveness if organized sports are more your speed, but the individual training facilities on campus are also excellent. The Campus Recreation and Wellness Center is my favorite place to lift weights, but it also has a floor of cardio machines, many sports courts, a climbing wall, and a pool. If you’re a runner or biker, there are lovely, paved trails all along the Iowa River. I use those almost daily. Lastly, most residence halls have a small fitness center if you need a quick workout or even a mat to do an at-home workout. One of my goals for the school year was to lift more weights and pack on some muscle, so I have been making frequent use of the athletic facilities here on campus.

Thanks for checking in with me. If you’ve made it this far, leave a comment about how your school year has been going. While I highlighted some of my rougher patches, it has been an overwhelmingly positive experience this first month or so at the university. I simply wanted to reflect a little on what is hard right now and how I’m trying to make it better. Stick with me the rest of the year to find out if I get my life together, and maybe, you’ll pick up some useful tips and tricks, especially you incoming freshmen.

Again, thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Kiah<3