What advice would you give to your freshman self?
Madelyn Rinka, graduating co-editor-in-chief
If this past year has taught me anything, it’s to learn to expect the unexpected… or maybe not to expect the expected. A lot of freshmen,myself included, tend to have the mindset of “I’ll do it when I’m a senior.” Yet, a lot of us seniors quickly realized that many of the things we were looking forward to wouldn’t be happening or would be modified. It was hardest in the beginning — watching the first events get canceled, postponed or moved online, and while it got easier over time, I still found myself wishing I had done things when I had the chance.
While I’m hoping the future of college experience won’t have such a dark COVID-19 cloud looming over it, I still think my advice stands. You can’t really expect anything to be the same as it was. Whether it’s because of a pandemic or not, you never know when you’ll get the opportunity to do something again, if at all, both in college and in life. Jump at new experiences and try things you’ve never done before, even if it means getting out of your comfort zone, assuming you can do so safely during or after the pandemic. I don’t intend to sound so ominous, but don’t wait to go for it, whatever it is for you — because you don’t know if it will be there tomorrow. Just try to make today a great day.
Christina McLaughlin, graduating co-editor-in-chief
Looking back at my college experience, it definitely had its fair share of highs and lows, but through it all, I’ve learned a very important lesson. Life may throw a whole lot at you, but you can and will persevere. I don’t think any of us seniors expected COVID-19 to change the expected senior year we all hoped to have. Even though it felt so unfamiliar and scary, once I adjusted and got “comfortable with the uncomfortable,” my experience improved and I was able to see the positives in this experience — like noticing how resilient and independent I have become these past four years.
So, my advice to my freshman self, or to really any freshman that will listen, is to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Put yourself out there and try things that make you a little nervous or are a little out of your comfort zone. If you told me freshman year that applying to the section editor position at the job fair would lead to me being co-editor-in-chief of The Current a year later, I wouldn’t believe you. So, put yourself out there. Try that new hobby or join that club or organization that interests you. You never know where it might lead. College is known as the experience that you will look back on with fond memories. So, why don’t you push yourself — safely, of course — to have those stories that are worth remembering years and decades from now.
Flor Ana Mireles, graduating copy editor
College may be something we are all experiencing — even in these unprecedented and online-based times — but that does not mean it will look the same for all of us. College is a time to figure yourself out and explore the person you are becoming. My advice to my freshman self would’ve been to jump into the pool of opportunities offered at NSU. Do not be afraid to explore different clubs and activities and passions you may have. It’s better to say you tried something, even if you didn’t like it as much as you thought you would than live with the regret of not having tried it at all. Most importantly, do not fear change. Change is inevitable, and like we’ve experienced in the last year, sometimes, change can happen in the blink of an eye. The trick is to just go with the motions and flow with the current of life’s experiences and adventures — you never know where they might lead you. In time, you will find you’ve changed a lot and a lot of that change comes with growth. It’s important to continue growing and continue striving to become the best version of yourself.
College is a time to explore. Find those subjects and hobbies that you are passionate about and go for it, even if it doesn’t result in a fancy title. Choose to do what you love rather than what is supposed to make you financially successful. Everyone’s story is different. Maybe, if you work hard enough for what you’re passionate about, you can do it for the rest of your life and not have to do something you’re only content with or even dislike for the rest of your life. Don’t be afraid to step out of the box and follow your dreams, even if it involves lots of steps and can become difficult. Don’t be afraid to ride that ride, even if you have to ride alone sometimes. Like life, college is what you make it. Make it the best you can and enjoy all its moments, both the good and the bad, and no matter what happens, know your senior self is looking back on you, proud of you and who you’ve grown to be.
