Author: Uncle Tacitus

Dear Sam,

When I was a lot younger, college felt like a time that was so distant and far in the future that it would never arrive. Now that it’s arrived and I’m in the thick of it, it’s already going by quickly. However, I’ve found that there are a few good things to do to slow it down and keep pace a bit. Finding and joining in on-campus events such as nature hikes, recreational sports, and game nights has provided me with a sense of something new: friends. Everybody joining in on campus events will be trying to find their place and their people to settle with, and the goal is to just have fun with it! I’ve learned that it’s everybody’s first time in a year like this. There are new people, new clubs, perhaps new classes every year. Everywhere you turn, you’ll have a new opportunity to find something you may like. 

While the purpose of college in part is to have fun and try new things, there are new responsibilities that come with it too. Academics and keeping track of assignments will clear the way to a proper routine where fun can be had while maintaining good grades. Show up to class, there will always be something important that will be missed if class is skipped. Late work is not taken as lightly as it might have been in high school, that’s why it’s best to get started on homework as soon as possible. Times seems to go by faster when work is not done, due dates just keep on coming. The best way to get as much out of college as possible is knowing when things must get done and when it’s time to try something new.  

– Uncle Tacitus

 

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Once summer ended and I took my first steps as a student on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s campus, the feeling began to set in that I didn’t know what my goals were quite yet. Being undecided on a major didn’t give me a whole lot of leverage on what to work towards to finish. I had confidence that I would eventually figure things out if I kept some optimism, but it was difficult to do so with no idea of whom I should go to. During my time in Milwaukee, I felt homesick, my roommate wasn’t very appealing in terms of attitude, and I learned quickly that I did not want to live in the city.

I took it upon myself to transfer to UWGB because of its homey feel as I felt I made my decision to enroll at Milwaukee too quickly. After transferring to UWGB, I was fortunate enough to enroll and get settled in only a day after first semester classes began. Greeting people and making new friends seemed easy enough, though it was still a setback from Milwaukee that I had to learn my way around a new campus all over again. However, I was able to do so with another student who was in nearly the same situation I was in. My mother knew a coworker whose daughter transferred from UWM to UWGB around the same time I did. After a short time that involved sadness and uncertainty, but also hope and rediscovery, I was able to get my bearings straight and look forward to taking small steps towards a larger goal again at UWGB.