Time has just flown by. It seems like yesterday I was moving in to my dorm room and trying to find the perfect place for everything. This has been a great year. I have done some awesome things and met some absolutely amazing people. I love Purdue and highly value my education, but the best part of this year was meeting the group of girls that I now consider some of my best friends. Friends are what make my college experience that much more enjoyable. If I didn’t have friends to hang out with I would hate college. These girls and I do everything together. We eat together, hang out on weekends, study together, and a few of them are even in some of my classes. These girls and I have really gotten to know each other and are there for each other. Anytime my roommate drives me nuts I can just walk down the hall and hang out in one of their rooms. A few of us are evening living together in a house next year.
The other huge highlight of the year was my study abroad trip to Honduras. I would recommend study abroad to anyone. Seeing the way other people live in a different culture changes your life. A few bad things have happened as well. I failed my first test, did not get my 4.0 first semester, lost touch with friends at home, and broke up with my boyfriend of 4 years. The year has been full of good and bad, but I wouldn’t trade the lessons I learned this year for anything.

My first year was great! Right now I am looking back on all of the events that occurred throughout this past year. My favorite moment was meeting my new friends that I have made throughout the year. I wouldn’t trade their friendships for anything! And I can definitely say it has made my first year very memorable! One of the things I regret, but I know that I can’t change is the fact that I chose not to live in a dorm my freshmen year. Instead, I chose to live in an apartment. I would definitely tell all incoming students to live in a dorm their first year. I think I missed out on meeting new people and eating in the famed dining halls. I also regret not driving down to Georgetown, Kentucky to visit my best friend earlier than March when I actually did make it down there to visit her.

I wish that I would have spent more time studying. I also didn’t get my 4.0. I got one B and was one percentage point away from getting an A. That was kind of hard to accept because I was so close to an A. But I know that other things are more important than grades. I think high school prepared me for college in a way, but I also think that sometimes subjects are spoon-fed to high school students.

Overall, I think freshmen year as a nursing student was great! I would not trade it for anything!

I really don't know where the time went this year. I can't believe it was just about this time last year when we all were graduating from high school. I think what has made time go by so fast is that I am always busy doing something. Along with the massive amounts of homework I have, I am also actively involved in two clubs--Agronomy and Block and Bridle. We are always doing something with these clubs, whether it is a meeting during the week or functions and fundraisers on the weekends. I think this is one of the best decisions I have made here at Purdue is to become involved in clubs. Yes, it is important for me to get good grades and to study, but I believe the socializing and being active in something is just as important. As our advisor for Block and Bridle always say, "Don't let your education get in the way of your learning", meaning everyone needs to take a break from the books every once in a while and do something hands on. I know I would not be friends with half the people I am if I had not joined these clubs. They have made a huge influence on my time here at Purdue so far. As this year is coming to an end, I am sad to be leaving my friends for the summer, but I know I will see them in a few short months. I can't wait until next year.