My Home Away from Home

The idea of college became frightening once I realized that I would be leaving home and becoming my own person. My first weeks of college were difficult because I felt homesick and I didn’t feel that I was a part of something at my school. My roommates eased the pain of being so far from home by creating a warm environment. Luckily, we clicked right away. After the first night on campus we realized we had a lot in common. Now, we do everything together. After a couple weeks I discovered an organization here at UC Santa Barbara that helps empower Latinas on campus called Hermanas Unidas. After attending many meetings and social gatherings hosted by the women in Hermanas I finally felt a part of something here on campus. 

My first impression of college was “freedom”. I thought I would be able to do anything I felt I could do.  After my classes began I realized I did have the freedom, just not the time.  My schedule became so overwhelming that any little time I did have for myself, I slept. At times I felt that I couldn’t do anything but once I began to apply myself and did much time management, school became easier. 

I have become very comfortable in my new home over the last month. Lately I have been thinking a lot about the future. I look forward to choosing a major by next year. In fact, I am currently interested in Sociology and considering making it my major.  After doing much research, I have decided that I want to study abroad. During a meeting with my counselor, the subject of studying abroad was brought up and I became very interested. I hope to say sometime soon that I will be studying abroad in Spain. Aside from my academics, I look forward to joining Hermanas Unidas and connecting with many other Latinas around campus.  So far I have grown many friendships and I feel anxious to meet more people. In short, college may come with obstacles but the struggle will never outweigh the experience.

-Scarlett, UCSB '16

UCLA: Week 3 done, 7 more to go!

Transitioning from a four month long summer into college was tough. But now that I’m out of the transitional phase, living 6 hours away from home isn’t as daunting as I imagined. I thought I would be homesick by the second week, but I was wrong. Week 4 is approaching and I can confidently say that I am comfortable here. Sure, I can’t see my cat, my boyfriend, or my family regularly, but I know the distance away from home will give my room for growth.

My first few weeks here were exciting! Although I felt like the environment was a little out of my element, it was exciting meeting so many people whose names I have already forgotten. There are so many people here that it is easy to fade into the background in a crowded room, but once you make a few friends it isn’t so bad anymore. 

The initial impression of college life didn’t differ too much from what I came in expecting. I knew that college was going to be a lot of hard work and I also knew that school would consume most of my time. In the first two weeks, I was prepared for whatever work that was thrown at me. Today, I feel like I am improving as a student all the time. However, I am developing bad habits. For example, yesterday I had one cup of coffee. Yes, I said it. One entire cup!! I don’t want to end up as a caffeine-addict by the end quarter 1, but I see the inevitable already coming. 

As quarter 1 progresses and the transitional phase comes to an end, I am most looking forward to becoming a better, more mature version of myself in college.

-Celesti, UCLA '16

Big City Livin'

Although it sounds cliché, college is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. I have always heard of the huge classes, deadlines, and the fast past working environments of higher education, but you do not know what to expect exactly until you are actually there. Coming as a freshman to San Francisco State University was a total wake up call for me. As I walked into my first ever college class I knew right away that it was going to be nothing like any high school I have ever been to. My Psychology 200 class was held in an auditorium where we had had a talent show during our Welcome Days. Therefore, I sat in the midst of eight hundred plus students. I felt like just one single rain drop falling into a huge ocean. I came into college thinking I would be able to have a personal relationship with my professor, getting assistance during class whenever needed. I was taken a back a bit when I found out I would have to save my questions and visit them later during the day or week during their office hours in order to get a deeper understanding and the personal help I needed on a topic. Keeping track off with office hours, studying for tests and quizzes, keeping up with readings, and writing essays can get a little overwhelming, especially when there is no one reminding you of any deadlines. However, college life isn't all stress. There are plenty on campus events that gets students involved to ensure they are having a good time. San Francisco State University has monthly dances, carnivals, talent competitions, free events, etc. San Francisco State is also in one of the most eventful cities in the west coast, so there are always free concerts and activities in which the school keeps you updated through a website. Along with college, come fun events and opportunities that assist you in gaining a lot of independence. Also college really helps you find who you are as person. I am looking forward to finding out more about myself. Every day I am finding myself thinking on a more critical level, discovering that things that I thought mattered does not matter at all now. I can feel myself maturing more with every bill I pay. As a struggling college student living off campus, in a townhome across from school with five other roommates, I’m really finding out the value of a dollar. I am also discovering all the advantages of higher education. Although there are times where I feel burdened and stressed, I know every day is just one step closer to a better future. I wake up every morning thinking, “Do I want to be like a fish stuck in a fishbowl, swimming in circles? Or do I want to branch out and become a fish in the ocean, full of opportunities?” I do not like having limits, and I know once I get my degree the sky is the limit. So it may be hard now, but hard work pays off.

-La'Chelle Watson, SF State '16

A New Beginning of my life at Sonoma State

My first week in Sonoma State University was really good but at the same time I felt that I didn’t belong to the school because it is totally different from high school. Sonoma State is enormous compared to my high school, and I got lost the first week of school. The good thing was that I arrived on time to all my classes. In my first week of school I had trouble doing my homework because the homework is harder than in high school. I wasn’t really informed about all the resources that our university offered us. This was a problem to me because the first week was hard, and I was also dealing with personal problems. 
However, being in Sonoma State was one of my best decisions that I ever had made in my life because I am the first of my family that comes from another country and made a big transition. I came without a good vocabulary to college but I feel that all my classes are making a change in my life and that every single day I learn more in each class. Some of my biggest fears about coming to college were being away from my family and friends and not being able to accomplish the expectative of my teachers due to my limited English. I am dealing with this by visiting writing center and getting help with my assignments. 

My first impression of Sonoma State is that all the students get united to work on groups so everyone will have more opportunities to understand topics that are given in class. It is completely different for what I was thinking of college. In college our classmates have an important role in our carrier because they are our resources to learn.  I was thinking that college will be easy and just had to go to the classes and do homework without having someone else by my side. Which is not what happen in college, here is where we as students we have to help each other, and if we don't understand we have to go to the professor. 

Now that I’m here I want to work hard and finish my career. I'm looking forward to graduate, and I know that obstacles will come to my life but there will be people that are willing to help me. Being in college so far is a great experience. I believe that everything is possible if I keep my goals in my mind and working hard for them.

-Rocio, Sonoma State '16 

I Bleed Bleu!

When I first arrived to Dillard University I didn’t know what to think. I had never been to a historically black college before. I had only seen how it was on movies. Astonishingly, it was just like it was on the movies; and I’ve grown to like it. The first week was called SOAR week. It was an introduction week for the entire freshman to meet each other and the SOAR leaders. We did various activities to bring our class together and learn about it each. The second week was when the unexpected happened. The school evacuated from Dillard to Shreveport, LA due to hurricane Issac. We evacuated to Centenary College and slept on cots for a whole week with 3 days’ worth of clothes. It was definitely a life-changing experience for me; being from California we don’t have to worry about hurricanes. On the other hand it gave me a chance to meet students who I would have never talked to. The bonds I made at Centenary will always be strong. I can pretty much say I’m adjusted to my school. I have joined the track team; and practice is very strenuous but it’s fun to push myself and work hard. I love the fact that I have my own apartment instead of dorms. I’m looking forward to when final grades come out and I can show my family how hard I’ve been working. I am doing well in all of my classes except Biology. Biology goes over my head and I find it challenging, but I have started going to the science lab for tutoring and I plan to work hard in it. I look forward to seeing how our basketball team is also. After being here for a little over a month, I can honestly say I’m glad I came to this school and I enjoy being a Bleu Devil and I plan to make a name for myself here and do great things.

-Courtney, Dillard University '16