For many college students, their years as an undergraduate student are filled with many firsts, from academics to relationships. It is a time to explore different classes, pathways, friend groups, and organizations. As a graduating senior, I made a list of some firsts I had as an UNC student:
1. First true exposure to dorm life…
2. …and dorm showers (which are much too short for someone who is nearly six feet tall)
3. …and being one of eight girls sharing one bathroom
4. …and sharing a teeny room with a roommate, one that functions as your bedroom, living room, office, and kitchen
5. First Spanish class actually taught in Spanish
6. First final grade below an “A”
7. First time going to a football game in Carolina blue (and yelling “TAR! HEELS!” instead of “PURPLE! GOLD!”)
8. First time actually getting excited for the basketball season
9. First time being in a class without knowing any other students’ name
10. First time buying overpriced textbooks
11. First time being in a full panic over trying to get into classes
12. First time celebrating Halloween on Franklin Street
13. First time spending hours in the chem lab
14. First time questioning my academic and career path
15. First time drinking excessive amounts of coffee
16. First time downloading Tinder
17. First terrible date
18. First wonderful date
19. First time celebrating Holi
20. First time singing “Hark The Sound”
21. First time singing “Hark The Sound” and actually knowing all of the words
22. First time being judged based on my major(s)
23. First time starting a blog (for a class)
24. First time blogging for fun
25. First time tripping on the bricks
26. First time I doubted my ability to graduate
27. First time binging on Netflix to avoid responsibilities
28. First time not feeling like a top student, or even “average”
29. First time seeing the beautiful campus turning into a Winter Wonderland
30. First time surviving exam season
31. First time having multiple final exams within 24 hours
32. First time choreographing a group dance
33. First time actually really loving the material I was learning
34. First time going to a club in Chapel Hill
35. First time going to a club in my hometown (and feeling like it’s an awkward, drunken high school reunion)
36. First time publishing an article
37. First time going to a job interview
38. First time starting a grad school application
39. First time seeing the incoming students the thinking they look SO YOUNG
40. First time wearing a Carolina blue graduation gown
Since starting college, I’ve had a lot of “firsts”, but I know that college will allow me to have many more. I cannot wait to graduate and see what’s next!
The Calculating Mind 