I Graduated, Finally! So, What was College Like?

So, what was college like for me now that I've finally graduated? Well, it was hard, to say the least, especially as a first-gen Latina. I had no idea what to expect, what questions to ask, or where or how to make friends, but by the grace of God, I graduated (a deep sigh of relief). One of the things I get to take away from this is, well, first, my education, duh, lol, but second, the professional experiences I had. Oh my gosh! They were fun and rewarding; I gained many transferable skills and met many lovely people! Some are my Newport Beach Film Festival Team and my MKTG 462 Team.

What were the classes like for me?

(Insert sweating laughing emoji here) They were a ROLLERCOASTER!! In all honesty, I'm glad that's over. Yes, I learned in the classes, but the stress some of them gave me was ridiculous. There's nothing like a class where the professor cares more about your learning experience than the grade. Those classes and professors are the best because you can learn and enjoy them without worrying about your grade. I'm not saying someone can't enjoy the class with the pressure and stress, but you know it wasn't my cup of tea. Other courses were boring, but I always learned something.

Friends

You know, I had high hopes of making friends in college, doing all this fun stuff, and joining clubs, as they show in the movies. I tried to join a sorority (a funny story I will tell one day ), but it didn't work out. I tried to make friends in class, but all everyone (including me) wanted to do after class ended was leave. I tried to join clubs, but I didn't try hard enough. And then, well, my last semester came, and I guess I was running on an empty tank and didn't have enough energy to meet people anymore. It's all ok, though, because I made one friend. He always knew me, but I had the honor of getting to know Him. His name is Jesus.

Commuting

It went from $200 to $300 after the pandemic. That's how much commuting college students pay for a semester parking permit. And you would think, "Hmm, well, I mean, at least there are many parking structures just for students." But they don't tell you that you will spend an hour looking for parking because there are more students than parking spots, and traffic is insane. It also contributed to the lack of energy when it came to making friends; I guess at the end of classes, I was just so tired that I didn't even want to try and go to club meetings to make friends. I just wanted to go home.

So, was my college experience as thrilling and exciting as in movies? No, but it was an experience with the good, the bad, and the in-between, and I am very grateful for all of it.