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Fall 2018 Reflection

            From finding a group of people I love and spending late nights in the library to cheering on the Gators at football games and discovering some of my research interests, my first semester at UF can be best described as eventful. I came to UF very unsure of myself and unsure that I was ready to be on my own. I very clearly remember worrying that I wouldn’t like my roommate, that I wouldn’t make any friends, and that I would fail all of my classes. I couldn’t have been more wrong. 

 

            I met my roommate on Facebook through a platform that was intended to help match people to an ideal roommate. We decided to live with each other right before the deadline, and because I hadn’t really gotten to know her besides surface-level questions, I was nervous. When we finally met in person, I knew immediately I had found my best friend. We complement each other perfectly. Getting to know my roommate eased many of the worries that I had carried coming in to college. I got to know my suitemates and the other people on the hall, and came to cherish times spent with them together in the common area. These interactions made me realize how many great people are at UF.       

 

           My first week at UF was spent rushing a sorority. I had spent the

majority of high school declaring that I wouldn’t rush. All of my friends told

me that I certainly didn’t fit the mold of a “sorority girl”. However, I made a

last-minute decision to rush, figuring that it would be unfair of me to not at

least give it a shot. While the actual process of rushing was difficult for my

usually introverted self, I was lucky enough to find my place at Chi Omega.

Within the first three weeks of accepting a bid, I found an amazing group

of girls to call my friends and my sisters. My favorite memories from fall

semester include football games, spontaneous library dates, and trips to

the movies with my sisters. I’m glad I decided to take a chance and rush,

because it led me to a group of people I can see myself sticking with for life.

 

            While the social aspect of college was what concerned me the most at the beginning, I was also worried about my classes and finding areas that sparked my interests. My first semester allowed me to take care of some necessary classes, while still letting me explore some options for what to take in spring semester. The URSP in particular helped me see that there are so many areas open for research that I’m sure to find a research topic that sparks my interests. I particularly enjoyed getting to attend the undergraduate research symposium; it was so cool to get to see what kind of work undergraduate students are producing. It made me feel more confident that I, too, could produce that level of quality work.

 

            As a whole, my first semester at UF was a whirlwind. I met many amazing people and learned so many new things about myself and my interests. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next few years take me. I’m excited to have the URSP as a guiding force toward discovering my research interests and getting involved in this research.

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