finals and the freshman year finale...
(insert sad face)
it’s hard to think about the fact that i’m sitting here in my favorite study spot (Harry Potter Hall), taking a break from preparing for finals (while my iPad charges), writing this article about my freshman year in college coming to an end. in less than a week, i will be back home in seattle, working on my internship and summer classes online during the day and hanging out with hometown friends and family after hours.
and let me tell you — time FLEW.
it feels like just yesterday i was moving into my dorm a month before everyone else to attend CS Bridge, an early program for CS, DS, and AI students to step foot in the waters of the technical world. it feels like just yesterday i was going to the Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) events with a random group of people that Purdue assigned (remember this point) and coming back home between every meeting to douse myself in perfume because it was so hot. and it feels like just yesterday i was making new friends, learning how to be away from home (i still FaceTime my parents like every second of every day), and growing into a stronger woman.
little did that Apuroopa know how much she was going to learn, struggle, laugh, and, let’s not forget, cry.
so, as freshman year comes to an end, here are my 10 biggest life lessons, for each month i have spent in this beautiful, welcoming town called West Lafayette, and in honor of 10 new people that i have met (in bullet-pointed format because my iPad is almost done charging):
“it’s never that deep.” -esha
if it’s not going to matter in 5 years, don’t give it more than 5 seconds of thought. everything will work out in the end (i know you hear this a lot, but i promise it truly does). mother earth tells us this every year when the rainy season stops, the flowers bloom, and the sun comes out every day. listen to her.“you are not a burden to those who love you.” -peyton
get that word out of your dictionary (i needed to too). people who love you will love you through the good and bad times. no matter what. if they don’t, they don’t love you. don’t beat yourself up over it. move on. live for the love you give and receive.“showing up matters.” -breck
people who show up physically (if they can) and online (if they can’t) are the real ones. hold on to them as long as you can. show up for them too. you never know how vital that one hour you spend with them can be.“you cannot control what other people do.” -lahari
what happens to you is out of your control. what you cannot change is out of your control. what other people do is out of your control. so why are you worried about it? focus on yourself and what you can do.“please call me or anyone when you’re spiraling.” -clare
life will be tough. don’t go through the tough times alone — you will only make it worse for yourself. call someone, or text them, and please ask for help.“you are who you choose to hangout with.” -priyanka
surround yourself with people who are focused on their future, love deeply, and think positively. just one moldy cherry can rot the whole box.“praying is the purest form of loving someone.” -ishana
pray if you believe, or just hope if you don’t. but believe in something, whether it be in your future self, God, another higher power, whatever it is, that everything will work out and everyone will be okay. someone needs to keep hope, or else it’s over for all of us. be that person for yourself and your loved ones.“stay off the grid.” -arya
let your name be known only for the good things. don’t get caught up in drama. it may seem fun, but the reputation you build will not go away. be careful with what you say and do and who you say or do it to. yes, people do remember.“you will never be this young again.” -liam
do it for the plot. i would say YOLO, but you only die once — you live every day. be safe, make good choices, and have fun.“you can lock in and still do the things you love.” -divya
school is important, but so is growing as a person. learn new skills, try something new, and say yes to everything (!!!). have a work-life balance. go out some weekends, and stay in when you have to.
that might’ve been a lot, but it made my short attention span happy (and i hope yours too). i’m so proud of you, you’re doing so great, and you are going to ACE those finals (or whatever is coming up for you).
cheers, and until next time, so much love,
apuroopa
P.S. remember that random group of people that Purdue put me with for a week for BGR? they’re now my best friends. so, i promise, everything will fall into place. don’t lose hope!!