RESTORATIVE
This year flew by so much faster than I ever wished it could. It seems like every year passes by faster than the year before… I wish it didn’t feel that way; I feel like time is moving so fast I’m missing it! I can’t believe it is already time to review my past year. It was an insanely wild roller coaster this year, and this will be a pretty heavy year-in-review, consequently. Here we go!
Although a many great and wonderful thing has happened to me, the biggest change of the year (and probably of my lifetime up to this point) was making the switch from Health Sciences/Pre-Med to Information Technology/Software Development. It had come to my attention, slowly but surely, that I was not satisfied in Health Sciences. As much as I wanted to convince myself that I was doing fine, I knew I was lying to myself. No matter how much I studied, no matter how much I read, no matter how many tutoring sessions I attended, I could not achieve the results I wanted. I found myself tired, cranky, and touchy. One day, after a particularly rough exam, I just broke down and cried. My cries were heavy sobs I didn’t even know my body could produce! My happiness was completely lost, and I found myself upset with not only myself, but the people around me. I actually even became jealous of other peoples’ happiness, and felt like I was a burden to my friends. That was the worst. It was a constant cycle of me feeling annoyed by people, and then feeling guilty for being annoyed. It was a confusing, desolate time. I knew I needed to make a change, or risk forgetting what happiness was altogether. That was the breaking point.
I went to the Exploratory Studies department the next day, and after a series of weeks, they told me my final test results. They explained that I had essentially scored right in the middle of a large wheel that showed a gradient of various skills, telling me that I was well-suited for almost anything. While flattering, it seemed like it made it almost more difficult for me. As someone who had her life planned out since she was about 10 years old, I saw changing majors as essentially starting over--a concept that was uncomfortable and scary. A blank slate was almost as frightening as the slate I was leaving behind. My Exploratory advisor, Matt Pickett, understood the difficulty, and carefully talked me through everything. Additionally, I had so many friends and family supporting me through the process over the course of the transition, and it was so wonderful to know I have so much support behind me.
The next semester, I started Information Technology courses. I've loved it ever since, and I look forward to the challenges it offers me. I even get excited to do my homework! I have new life breathed within me! It’s the perfect incorporation of science and creativity, in my opinion. There are so many ways to achieve one task, and it’s exciting to find all those different ways and learn about their inner workings. I feel like I’m actually learning things for the first time in college. I’m currently in the process of looking for a co-op, and will hopefully get my first job experience in the fall. I can’t believe how quickly it’s all coming together.
I could not have done it without the people around me, be they my friends or family. This year I developed the social relations I made as a freshman, and have been really trying to focus on being the best friend I can be. The only way I could do anything I’ve achieved this past year is through my friends. My friends in Health Sciences nudged me towards a career change, and supported me throughout the process. I still keep in contact with them. My roommates helped me during the nights when I’d be stressing out about an exam or a quiz that I knew I bombed, and they consoled me when I was feeling down. Albeit a cliche, my boyfriend has been my rock this year, and our relationship has only grown stronger through various tumults. We started living together and it’s just been the best. However, the most important people this year have been my parents, once again. If I had no friends and no boyfriend, life would be miserable, but the relationship I have with my parents is indispensable. I was so afraid to tell them I was considering changing majors, and while it took a lot of courage to tell them, they had been nothing but supportive since that day. This year had only reinforced how much they mean to me, and how much I love them. The people in my life are vital to me. They are what make my life so vibrant and exciting, and this year has really reminded me of their importance. I love each and every one of them.
Although a many great and wonderful thing has happened to me, the biggest change of the year (and probably of my lifetime up to this point) was making the switch from Health Sciences/Pre-Med to Information Technology/Software Development. It had come to my attention, slowly but surely, that I was not satisfied in Health Sciences. As much as I wanted to convince myself that I was doing fine, I knew I was lying to myself. No matter how much I studied, no matter how much I read, no matter how many tutoring sessions I attended, I could not achieve the results I wanted. I found myself tired, cranky, and touchy. One day, after a particularly rough exam, I just broke down and cried. My cries were heavy sobs I didn’t even know my body could produce! My happiness was completely lost, and I found myself upset with not only myself, but the people around me. I actually even became jealous of other peoples’ happiness, and felt like I was a burden to my friends. That was the worst. It was a constant cycle of me feeling annoyed by people, and then feeling guilty for being annoyed. It was a confusing, desolate time. I knew I needed to make a change, or risk forgetting what happiness was altogether. That was the breaking point.
I went to the Exploratory Studies department the next day, and after a series of weeks, they told me my final test results. They explained that I had essentially scored right in the middle of a large wheel that showed a gradient of various skills, telling me that I was well-suited for almost anything. While flattering, it seemed like it made it almost more difficult for me. As someone who had her life planned out since she was about 10 years old, I saw changing majors as essentially starting over--a concept that was uncomfortable and scary. A blank slate was almost as frightening as the slate I was leaving behind. My Exploratory advisor, Matt Pickett, understood the difficulty, and carefully talked me through everything. Additionally, I had so many friends and family supporting me through the process over the course of the transition, and it was so wonderful to know I have so much support behind me.
The next semester, I started Information Technology courses. I've loved it ever since, and I look forward to the challenges it offers me. I even get excited to do my homework! I have new life breathed within me! It’s the perfect incorporation of science and creativity, in my opinion. There are so many ways to achieve one task, and it’s exciting to find all those different ways and learn about their inner workings. I feel like I’m actually learning things for the first time in college. I’m currently in the process of looking for a co-op, and will hopefully get my first job experience in the fall. I can’t believe how quickly it’s all coming together.
I could not have done it without the people around me, be they my friends or family. This year I developed the social relations I made as a freshman, and have been really trying to focus on being the best friend I can be. The only way I could do anything I’ve achieved this past year is through my friends. My friends in Health Sciences nudged me towards a career change, and supported me throughout the process. I still keep in contact with them. My roommates helped me during the nights when I’d be stressing out about an exam or a quiz that I knew I bombed, and they consoled me when I was feeling down. Albeit a cliche, my boyfriend has been my rock this year, and our relationship has only grown stronger through various tumults. We started living together and it’s just been the best. However, the most important people this year have been my parents, once again. If I had no friends and no boyfriend, life would be miserable, but the relationship I have with my parents is indispensable. I was so afraid to tell them I was considering changing majors, and while it took a lot of courage to tell them, they had been nothing but supportive since that day. This year had only reinforced how much they mean to me, and how much I love them. The people in my life are vital to me. They are what make my life so vibrant and exciting, and this year has really reminded me of their importance. I love each and every one of them.