Reflection
Never in a million years would I have imagined such an abrupt end to the first fifth of my time at UC, but Bearcats are nothing if not resilient. The semester and a half that I did get to spend on campus was fantastic, and I can't wait to return when the time comes.
My first year in UC, in DAAP, and in UHP brought many exciting changes. I met so many new friends, tried new things like cycling classes, and I got to know myself more. I finally felt like I was in the right place at the right time, doing things that make me happy, and as cheesy and nerdy as it may sound, I woke up each day in my dorm excited to go to class and be a designer.
My academic and professional goals developed this year in many ways. In first semester, my schedule was as light as it had ever been...so I was gifted with more time to focus on projects, work out on a regular basis, and see my friends. This also taught me that I'm happiest when I'm busiest, and I thrive on having a schedule. I'm definitely a Type A person, and I only realized that more when my schedule was completely up to me! My academic goals up until this point had always been about having the perfect grades, and I didn't really enjoy having so much work in high school just for the sake of getting it done and getting an A. With that said, I finally discovered that this goal was backwards. Putting my heart into projects allowed me to not only enjoy them more, but also to do better work on something I cared about, and still get the A. Why hadn't I seen that before?! At long last, I had the time this year to let myself be absorbed in a drawing or in the planning stages of a large project...without having to worry about having enough time for calculus or a ten-page paper. It sounds like a very different experience from most college students, and I was continually surprised by how not stressed I was. It was so nice to be in charge of my own time and be able to continue studying French and playing flute and piccolo in concert band.
As for my professional goals...well, before college, they weren't very defined. I wanted to be a designer. I wanted to work in interactive digital media, known as User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI). Basically, I just wanted to have a good job after college, and I knew from my first college tour that I was excited to co-op. But what about the five years ahead? I felt like I was in limbo in first semester, waiting until the next year to figure out what exactly I'd do. In December, however, I completed my first Honors Experience at LeaderShape, and I think that week helped me get a stronger grasp of how I'd reach a career I love. It showed me that you don't have to be named a leader to express and live through leadership. This was a big concept for me when I had always thought I needed to be at the top of everything to enjoy it. As it turns out, it's often quite the opposite.
For the year ahead, my academic goals remain largely the same. I'll remind myself how much happier I am when I give myself a little time to breathe, and how that lets me focus on my work. I love the feeling of being immersed in something productive while I'm still having fun, and design does exactly that for me. I even added a Business Certificate in French this spring, which I hope to turn into a minor or a double major later on. Learning is a huge part of who I am, and I'm so fortunate to be in a place that encourages trying new things.
I know that my professional goals and experiences will develop a lot in the coming year. I'm confident about starting my first co-op in the spring of 2021, and I'm excited to expand my design portfolio and knowledge in the time being. This year will be one to test myself, push myself, and adapt more easily, especially in a time of quarantine that will undoubtedly impact the rest of my time in college. I've learned flexibility above all else this year, and my goal is to continue to be flexible and not worry too much about the future, because I finally, finally learned to enjoy what I'm doing in the moment instead of later.