I don't think anyone can prepare you for those first few minutes sitting alone in your freshman dorm room. The quiet reverberates, the smell of fresh cleaning supplies and the laundry detergent your mother uses wafts up your nose, and you realize you are now on your own. As a college freshman, you must navigate not only learning new materials, but must come to terms with newfound freedom. The first semester of college is far more than the giddy excitement of "Hi, my name is Makenna and I'm from...", or even of that first "no Mom, I'm fine" phone call that makes your chest expand with faux-adulthood; those first, pivotal months serve as an opportunity and a challenge to learn how to take care of yourself, and how to advocate for what you want.
My first month at UF was a whirlwind of expanding the "box" that was my comfort zone. I joined a sorority, which was a space I never imagined I would be comfortable in, yet now I look at those women as some of the most pivotal and influential figures in my life. I took a chance and applied to be an Undergraduate Research Ambassador for CURBS and even though I felt my palms go clammy and my throat tighten during the interview, I can now proudly say I am the new Co-Director of the University Liaison Council. These few steps led me to meet many amazing people, and besides my academic comfort zone I also pushed my social boundaries. I found myself eating with complete strangers those first couple months, and through laughter and "hometown stories" I gained many a friendly face on campus.
While all of the comradery was comforting, I was faced with mental health challenges in my first semester. I struggled in Calculus 2, and was eventually forced (due to an exam conflict with another class and my existing grade) to withdraw. This academic blunder had me doubting my abilities and worth as a UF student, and I found myself leaning on my newfound support system more than ever. I also made the choice to attempt to repair my relationship with my family, which was a daunting task, but through short phone calls and painstaking letters, I feel closer to my parents than ever.
I am proud of the person I have become in my first semester at UF, and even more excited to see the person I will be next year.
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