The fact that over a year has passed since I graduated from high school is astounding, in what feels like a blur over the course of a short year has been a montage of lifetime experiences and memories that I will hold with me forever. It feels wrong to say we are a quarter of the way finished with college, as the time goes by at an increasingly rapid pace we are left to confront the harsh realities and responsibilities of adulthood as individuals.
Beginning the year at Ole Miss I was filled with eager anticipation and wonder as to what college would hold in store for me throughout the coming years. In my first week of college I was introduced to the friendly and supportive nature of the campus through the actions and behaviours of my fellow peers. Wherever I went I was greeted and conversed with strangers who had similar interests as myself, I had to adapt to becoming an extrovert in order to compensate for my lack of known acquaintances in the Mississippi area. This tremendously improved my ability to be outgoing and meet new people, something I struggled with throughout my life due to my introverted nature. Additionally throughout my schoolwork I had to adjust towards the college academic environment in a multitude of fashions completely modifying my approach on taking notes, studying habits and preparing for exams. During this time of adaptation I was taught the value and importance of responsibility to oneself, as well as their duty to set expectational goals achievable through the determination and motivation one exerts. Although I have gained many crucial skills that will prove beneficial to my life, the consequences developed from the coronavirus pandemic have taken a toll upon certain aspects of my character that are visible after a year in quarantine. Noticeably I recognize the negative shift in my daily activity level resulting from my lack of motivation to make plans, which has increasingly become an impending issue affecting my health. Furthermore I have noticed a difference in not just the behaviour of myself but of society progressively placing emphasis on the necessity of decreased social interaction, harming the economy as well as all those in the community. Throughout this trying time many have exemplified their perseverance towards a sense of normalcy to minimal avail, even so those who have prospered have given hope to strugglers searching for a remedy.
Reflecting on the past year given the chaotic sequence of events and treasured memorable experiences contributing towards how I have evolved as a person, I can clearly identify the key moments in which I learned crucial lessons positively influencing my goals. In many instances the confrontations influence myself to determine a factor which may better aid me towards a future conflict. Although college has not gone how I presumed it would with parties round the clock and a very difficult work ethic, the memories I have created with the friends I’ve made are irreplaceable and genuine critical moments in my lifetime.