Looking Back

            For some, our first year at Iowa State doesn’t seem all that long ago. Only when we start to examine everything we have learned and experienced in the past couple years does it really add up. Think about it, not including all of the knowledge we have gained academically that is related to our field of study, we have learn a lot about how to live and how to “survive” college. Hopefully you have learned a significant amount in your classes in the 60+ credits you taken so far. The lessons we learn between classes, in the dorms, out on the town, and away from home are huge parts of being a college student.

            It was 11:00pm the Sunday before my first week of classes as a Cyclone. I was just moving into my room on the third floor of Maple Hall after spending two weeks at the state fair. My roommate was less than thrilled about me moving in the night before our 8:00am classes. When I think back to my first week on campus I can remember eating in the dinning center for the first time. Waiting in line for almost an hour just to spend hundreds of dollars on books. Wondering the halls of Carver Hall looking for my Math 165 lecture. It didn’t take long to pick up on the way things were done and how to get around campus.

            Now that all our first semester is years in the past, it becomes easy to take for granted the transition that everyone must go through when coming to college. More importantly we must remember that the experience is different for everyone. I may have found it easy to adjust to using the CyRide to get around campus after growing up taking public transportation to middle school. For somebody who has never taken public transportation in his or her life, other than a big yellow school bus, it could a totally different situation.

            I encourage not only reflecting upon your personal experiences, but also empathizing with others who might be in the same situation with different circumstances. We have a variety of valuable experiences to share with others, but assuming they are going to experience them in the same way we did will be a huge mistake. 

Oh yeah... and don't forget to be awesome.

~Easten