If you met me at the beginning of the semester, you may not have recognized me. Outwardly I look relatively the same, but my attitude has drastically changed. Going from being home schooled to UC was a huge change, and I've adapted myself to campus life. My family is absolutely wonderful and I am so grateful for them, but outside of my house my work environment and my relationships were poisonous and dragging me down. I was ecstatic to get out and start fresh, but I had partly shut myself off emotionally. But this semester is the first time I have felt like I belonged and not been an outcast. This sense of community has been a huge confidence boost, and I've discovered about myself that nothing can stand in the way of my goals.
On my first day of classes, one of the other astrophysics majors who sat behind me in physics started chatting with me and asked if I wanted to study with him. This was really my turning point, through him I've met all my close friends and I'm never without someone to laugh with or confide in. We do everything together and I have had so much fun this semester (from just studying, to video games, to Dungeons and Dragons, to even road-tripping to Cleveland for Metalfest). When I had a relationship abruptly end, my friends were always making sure I was okay and even went so far as to have me stay the night with them. I have grown so much as a person because of these people, and I am so grateful. My biggest emotional turning point was when one of my very closest friends said to me, "Emi you have been through so much, and yet you're the strongest person I know." Just this one sentence made me realize that even through all the things that happened to me before college, I can remain steadfast and not crumble. Although I was bitter before, now I am grateful for these experiences (even the highly negative ones) because I'd so much rather them happen to me so I can save my friends before they happen to them.
All in all this semester has been a wonderful experience academically and has helped me grow exponentially emotionally. I am infinitely grateful for the support of my family, friends and advisers, and I am looking forward to continuing to grow and expanding my horizons. I've thrown away all my past nervous quirks, and have even been able to play music at Catskeller and Woody's, and I have multiple more gigs planned for winter break and next semester. Without my experiences this semester, I probably couldn't get up in front of people and talk, let alone sing and play an instrument.
On my first day of classes, one of the other astrophysics majors who sat behind me in physics started chatting with me and asked if I wanted to study with him. This was really my turning point, through him I've met all my close friends and I'm never without someone to laugh with or confide in. We do everything together and I have had so much fun this semester (from just studying, to video games, to Dungeons and Dragons, to even road-tripping to Cleveland for Metalfest). When I had a relationship abruptly end, my friends were always making sure I was okay and even went so far as to have me stay the night with them. I have grown so much as a person because of these people, and I am so grateful. My biggest emotional turning point was when one of my very closest friends said to me, "Emi you have been through so much, and yet you're the strongest person I know." Just this one sentence made me realize that even through all the things that happened to me before college, I can remain steadfast and not crumble. Although I was bitter before, now I am grateful for these experiences (even the highly negative ones) because I'd so much rather them happen to me so I can save my friends before they happen to them.
All in all this semester has been a wonderful experience academically and has helped me grow exponentially emotionally. I am infinitely grateful for the support of my family, friends and advisers, and I am looking forward to continuing to grow and expanding my horizons. I've thrown away all my past nervous quirks, and have even been able to play music at Catskeller and Woody's, and I have multiple more gigs planned for winter break and next semester. Without my experiences this semester, I probably couldn't get up in front of people and talk, let alone sing and play an instrument.