Jack Lepp/Next Program
As soon as my mom drove away this last August, leaving me at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, alone, I began my journey of becoming an adult or at least I felt like I did. I remember walking into the dorm where I was going to live for the next year, feeling really old. I did not know what to expect out of my freshman year. I have heard that college is a time of self-discovery, learning new things, lasting memories and friends. Little did I know, my first semester so far of college would bring me so many different experiences, both positive and negative ones that will probably change who I am throughout college and for my future.
The first couple of weeks were a complete party but stressful at the same time. Stressful knowing which rooms to go to for certain classes everyday. All freshmen around me seemed to be surprised by the type of freedom that college came with. For reasons like staying up late and out as late as we wanted to without any questions. We could eat whatever we wanted and have our rooms as messy as we wanted. We were with friends twenty-four hours a day, creating close bonds and friendships. Freedom does not come without a struggle, and some freshmen I talked with had struggled with high school, parents, and even petty drama for the freedom we obtained the minute we walked onto the college campus. Some people go a little too wild with their newfound freedom, and later regret many of the things they did with the freedom. Others proceeded with caution, sometimes a little too much. I think that I myself found a healthy medium between the two.
Most importantly, I learned two things, like that nothing comes easy and learning the material is far more important than the grades received. Also that the classroom is not the only place where learning takes place. I have learned so much from the relationships I have made here at Northwestern so far and I have made incredible bonds with the amazing people around me. From all sorts of people I have learned at least one different thing, whether it is something from the area they are originally from or culture and in which they view and live their life. There is almost nothing I could ask for in exchange for the things I have both learned and been through here at Northwestern. Take chances. Be careful. Work hard. Learn in class and out of class. Open your mind and try new things you may or may not like. Take what comes at you for what it is and to me most importantly, live the life you have been given by the Lord our Savior.
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