Do YOU Know When You Register

Engl 165-09 Fall ’25

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Coming back from break felt a lot like what Sarah is going through in the book, that weird mix of excitement and exhaustion. Being home was nice because everything felt familiar again. My own bed, my family, and not having to worry about my school work. Even though I only got 2 days of fall break, coming back here to be with my teammates was so much fun! It was strange coming back to my dorm and adjusting to sharing space with my roommate again. Luckily, no dead fish situation here, but it definitely took a day or two to get back into my routine. Registration is coming up soon, and I’m already stressing a little about getting the classes I want. I’ve been looking at my schedule and trying to balance what I need for my major with things that actually sound interesting. It still feels like there’s a lot about college that’s brand new, like how fast time goes by, and how different professors can be with their expectations. Sarah’s experience at her big midwestern school seems a lot more chaotic than mine here at Longwood. I actually like that Longwood is smaller. I feel like it’s easier to get to know people, and professors actually remember your name. I don’t think I’d like being one of thousands of students in a lecture hall. Since being here, I’ve noticed that I eat dinner super early or super late due to late-night practices. I also see that I only talk to my two best friends from my high school. With Christmas break coming up soon, I am looking forward to seeing them and my family. I don’t get a spring break because of cheer, which sucks, but at least I get to be with my friends. It’s also weird to think about being gone from Longwood for that long. I’ve started to feel like this place is my new normal. Looking ahead, I want to finish my freshman year strong. I’m planning to stay on top of assignments, manage my time better, and make sure I still make time for friends and self-care. College has already taught me a lot about balance, and I think Sarah and I are both figuring that out in our own ways.

 
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Blog Post 5

Engl 165-09 Fall ’25

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coming back from break, I feel a mix of comfort and disorientation, which is something I noticed Sarah experiences too. She returns to school after Thanksgiving ready to push through the last couple of weeks, but the shift from home to campus life isn’t easy. For me, going home felt familiar and grounding. Everything was where I left it, and I didn’t have to worry about sharing a space. Return ing to my dorm meant adjusting again to living with my roommate. While it hasn’t been a bad transition, it definitely feels different from the comfort of home. Sarah felt this too in her own way. She enjoyed the break but knew she had to readjust once she returned, and that’s something I really relate to.

Another thing Sarah and I share is the feeling of preparing for what’s next. She has to face exams and start planning for the next semester. I’m also starting to think about registration. What classes I want, which ones will help me reach my goals, and what times fit best have been taking up my mind recently. Even though I’ve been at Longwood for a while now, some parts of college still feel brand new, like figuring out how to manage my time during these busy stretches and making sure I’m on top of deadlines.

Unlike Sarah though, I have actually maintained and even gotten better relationships with my friends back home. My senior year of high school, I found myself isolating myself. It wasn’t for any specific reason, I was just doing it. Now being away from home most of the time, I rely very heavily on my hometown friends. It still feels a bit wild to have to distinguish them as my hometown friends and not just the people who live down the street from me or in second period.

With our two larger breaks coming up, I could not be more excited to just get this semester over and done with. I believe stepping away from the college scene for an extended period will do me wonders. I honestly am not the biggest fan 0f college as a whole. I know, however, when we all come back for the spring semester, I will feel a bit disoriented once again. Reading Sarah’s story reminds me that the rest of freshman year is going to involve a lot of change, and I want to plan for it, whether that means staying organized with classes, maintaining my friendships, or finding ways to make the return from breaks smoother. Like Sarah, I’m learning to balance comfort and growth.