Blog post #5
Coming back from Fall break was hard luckily my roommate is also my best friend from home. Transitioning back to school from being home wasn’t as difficult because I had her and she is someone I associate home with.
I register for Spring semester classes on November 1st at 7 A.M. which I am not looking forward to waking up for but I am excited because I will be a second-semester college student. I am dreading having to take Spanish 110 but that is a requirement I need to graduate and I would rather get it done with early. I am a little worried about next semester because the classes I am planning on taking are much harder than the classes I took this semester. I am not a math person and it is something I am not strong in but unfortunately next semester I have to take statistics. Juggling a language and a math will be a struggle but I’m hoping I will be able to manage.
My experience being in a smaller school has been great so far. My classes are no bigger than 20 students and I like that because then you can ask more questions in class without 50 other students also trying to ask like the bigger school Sarah goes to. I also feel like it’s been easier to make friends being at Longwood whereas going to a big school like Sarah I would struggle more.
I feel like being away from my best friends has honestly broughten us closer. We talk almost everyday and obviously I miss them like crazy but it makes breaks seeing them more special. Going on break is something I look forward to because I have been very homesick but the transition back to school from break is very hard. I get very comfortable being home and not being able to stay sucks. Although during break the hardest part about being away from Longwood is missing my college friends. I think being away from Longwood for an extended amount of time will be good for me because I am homesick but I will also be missing my college friends.
Dear Madelyn,
I’m sorry that coming back from fall break was such a hard transition for you, but I’m glad that you were able to have someone that was both familiar and associated with home.
You mentioned having to take both a language and a math class. I want to focus on when you said you’ll be taking statistics. I’m currently taking a statistics class and let me tell you, I was just as worried. While I can admit it does get hard, and it’s gonna stress you out more than you know, just take a minute to yourself and breathe. Focus on what the teacher is saying and trying to teach you, and then when you get back to your room, (if the teacher uses powerpoints) study those. It gets easier as the semester goes on.
Now on the language side of things, I’m also taking a language next semester, but mine will be French 110. I’m kind of worried about that but I’m sure I can get through it, and I’m sure you can get through yours too.
I agree with you when you say you find more comfort being in a smaller school than a larger one. While everyone’s social experience is different, Longwood is very good about making sure everyone has a space that they’re comfortable in, which makes it that much easier to call this place home.
I’m glad you have something to look forward to when going on breaks. Especially since you get to spend time with friends that you spent so much time away from during the semester. I understand being homesick, while I only live a short distance from here, I always wanna go back home but have to resist the urge because I know that I won’t get as much schoolwork done there as I would here.
Dear Madelyn,
Reading your post I have a lot in common with you. My roommate is also my best friend from home, and helps transitioning from home not as bad as well. We live in the same neighborhood and do a lot of the same activities at home, which allows us to ride home together. With being able to travel back and forth together it helps thoughts of missing home not as rough as I am definitely a family person.
I also register for classes at the same time as you. When my advisor told me the time, I think I paused for a second in silence, trying to realize I will be waking up so early already dreading it. I also have to take Spanish as a requirement, but one more level up as that was my placement. I wanted to try to take the class semesters back to back so I would not forget the material as easily. The last time I took Spanish was sophomore year of high school, so I am definitely worried about this class coming up in the next year.
As you mentioned I also have loved being here at Longwood. I have always been more of a smaller atmosphere person anyways. Most of my classes are smaller, but I do have two bigger classes as my major of elementary education is pretty big here; so I can agree with you and Sarah on this. Although some of my classes are bigger I have been able to meet people here as I believe it would be more difficult with a bigger school.
My friends from home and I still communicate on a regular basis, and I see them pretty often. I go home around every two weeks and we all try to find something to do even if it’s just grabbing coffee. I do think seeing them often has not made me miss them as much, but I definitely look forward to seeing them. If I do not go home we all will do a big group facetime to talk about how our weeks have been.
Sincerely,
Lauryn