I’m Going To First Year!

BY NEHA D, MACINSIDERS

First Year. It's astounding really how so much worry and excitement can be associated with those two little words. Am I going to make friends in University? Will I just be ‘a part of the crowd’? How am I going to pay off my loans? Can I work, study and have fun at the same time? What about my grades? Can I keep them up to what I got in high school? Etc. And the exciting part? The ability to start fresh, to make new friends, to have new ambitions, to have new successes, to gain new experiences, to form a new chapter in one’s life and to grow into someone better.

For me, preparing for First Year has been full of first-times. There was my first time choosing my courses for myself, my first time making my own timetable and choosing for myself when I wanted to have my classes (instead of the Guidance counsellors just giving it to you), my first time on SOLAR (and hated it), my first time registering for my courses , my first time competing for spots in my electives, and my first time being in a lecture hall (for the FYEO Summer Orientation) and thinking to myself “so this is what it feels like”.

Personally, I am more excited about first year than I am anxious. I am excited about meeting new people, making new friends, living for myself, becoming independent, having the freedom to do what I want and being responsible for my own decisions. I am looking forward to the experiences I might have in University, as I know they will be the most memorable moments of my life.

Even though there are many things that I am looking forward to, there's a lot that I am nervous about. For one thing, will I be able to keep up a good grade? Am I really going to drop by 15% from my high school average? How will I be able to manage the workload, the tests, the assignments and not to mention the stress? Will I be able to relax with my friends at all? What about all the things I need to do for second year? And then from there, where do I go? Fortunately, McMaster does offer help and support to first years so I don't have to worry too much.

My goals for first year are to make many friends, enjoy my University life along with trying to keep up a good grade and, most of all, get the most out of my first year experience because I'm only going to be a first year student once. I want to grow from this year and walk away stronger and more ready to face the years to come.

I may not know where this year may take me and what difficulties I may encounter, but the one thing I know for certain is that I’m ready!

Great article

orb yrots looc

Originally Posted by FireDragoonX

orb yrots looc

Someone has too much time on their hands.

Originally Posted by niteskie

Someone has too much time on their hands.

Yah, maybe its summer vacation!!!

Haha, i have a similar "article" in my journal. Man, this year's been stressful! Glad it's Gone!

PS_ great article!

Originally Posted by FireDragoonX

orb yrots looc

I concur.

I think the worst thing I was worried about in first year was keeping my grades up, but I did and now I'm chills. :]


Unless if second year is a total biotch.

great article

Originally Posted by feonateresa

I think the worst thing I was worried about in first year was keeping my grades up, but I did and now I'm chills. :]


Unless if second year is a total biotch.

So true, I think that's the #1 worry of all first years, since high school was pretty easy compared to the unknowns of next year - excluding the ones who are away from home for the first time, and are going to Mac for the parties >.<

Originally Posted by feonateresa

I think the worst thing I was worried about in first year was keeping my grades up, but I did and now I'm chills. :]


Unless if second year is a total biotch.

I heard second year sucks, but that was from my cousin at UofT XD

Originally Posted by jhan523

I heard second year sucks, but that was from my cousin at UofT XD

xD A lot of my friends like died at UofT first year, so there you go. I'm just going to throw myself into my work this year, can't do much else.

Originally Posted by feonateresa

xD A lot of my friends like died at UofT first year, so there you go. I'm just going to throw myself into my work this year, can't do much else.

Yep, that's how I approach everything: Just do my best.

I feel so bad for all the people who go into U of T because their parents wanted them to, or merely for the reputation of the school :(, and then they end up with horrible marks in first year (not all of course , but through a lot of examples I know!)