Life as a college student

00:00 So you're going to tell me now, 50 years later for me, what. How life has changed in all that period of time for a healthy young person growing up.

00:11 Yeah. So I feel like when you were speaking, you kind of, like, sparked an idea with me that I wanted to talk about a little bit. It was just, like, how you were talking about how, like, when you got to college, it was just, like, so many different types of people, and it was so diverse, and, like, these different people, like, taught you different things and stuff like that. And I agree. Like, I completely agree with that. And when I was in high school, my high school was probably a little bit more diverse than yours, obviously, and I was friends with a bunch of different people or different kinds of people. But I feel like once I got to college, it was like, your first time, like, when you get, like, freedom, like, from your parents, like, like, the first time that I'm not living at home with my parents at, like, all the time, I'm not going home to my mom or dad every night. So it's basically, like, not that I get to do whatever I want I want, but it's not that I have to go back and ask my parents, like, oh, can I do this? Can I do that? So I think the freedom that college, like, has allowed me to have has, like, also allowed me to make a bunch of connections and also just, like, being in classes with so many different types of people, it just has allowed me to make different connections. Like, I think, like, as a person, I've grown a lot socially since I've been in college. I know Covid. When I. When Covid happened and everybody was in quarantine, it was like, I didn't really see that many people. I only saw, like, my family, like, my mom, my dad, and my sister, and, like, occasionally my friends. But, like, my parents were really stuck on, like, no seeing anybody, like, during COVID So I kind of, like, lost all my, like, socialness, I guess, like, all my ability, all my abilities to be, like, social. So I kind of had to relearn that when I came back here or when I came to college. So, I mean, it was a struggle just getting into, like, this new world of, like, everything is so social. Especially, like, in college. Like, everybody goes out and stuff like that. Everybody goes to parties, and, like, everything's just super, like, social with your friends. So I just kind of had to learn how to, like, change from COVID and not seeing anybody to seeing, like, hundreds of people a day, like, in my classes and stuff like that. So Ever since I've been here, I've just been in, like, classes with a bunch of different people. I've been able to, like, network. Like, my major is public health, so I've been able to, like, network with different people, like, what they're doing with their public health major. And it's like, helping me kind of steer what direction I want to go in for the future. I mean, I still have no idea what I want to do, but I think, like, making these connections, like, in class, like, is going to help me with what I want to do in the future. See if, like, they like what they're doing or they don't like it or if they can give me an advice. And also, I think, like, college and, like, being this age has also taught me, like, how to reach out and make friends and not, like, let, like, it's like, not, like, everything is going to come to you and everything's going to find you. It's like, you need to go find, like, what you want. So, like, last year I was a freshman, and I was. I was in. Well, I graduated high school early. I came to college early, and. But it was still Covid. And so we all. We had all of our classes online. Everybody was on Zoom. So you don't really. You weren't able to, like, make friends. And really my only friends were on my team. So then last year, it was, like, the first time that, like, everybody had been back in full classrooms and stuff like that, and everybody's just trying to get into the flow of it again. Everybody's, like, relearning everything that they lost, like, during COVID And last year was, like, especially difficult for me because I was trying to, like, extend and make, like, friends off the team and stuff like that and create, like, connections off of, like, my team or, like, outside of my comfort zone. But it was just super hard because it was everybody so used to, like, who they already talked to. But I think this year, especially, like, I moved in with some people on the soccer team, so I've been able to, like, branch out and make connections with, like, them. Obviously, they're three of my closest friends now, and just, like, meeting their friends and them meeting, like, my friends, it's just, like, been able. I feel like just my social circle is just way bigger than it was last year, and that's something that I really struggled with last year. But this year is definitely a lot better. And like I said before, it's just, like, it's something that I work for instead of, like, I didn't like, I was trying to let it come to me, but it really wasn't. And it was hard because it was like, when everybody gets in classes with, like, 200, like, 400 people, especially at UMass, like, when we have classes that big, like, nobody. Nobody's really gonna talk. Like, everybody's just gonna keep to themselves. So, like, it was kind of like I had to teach myself how to go outside my comfort zone. Like, especially, like, I had definitely had to go outside my comfort zone, deciding to live with three girls that I had never met before. I mean, I was friends with one of their teammates, and I have never met the three girls that I live with before. And when I moved in, well, actually during the summer was the first time that I met all of them, so it was definitely outside of my comfort zone. I was definitely scared just, like, what would happen. But I'm definitely glad that I took the decision, because now I'm just, like, so happy with where I'm at socially. So I'm definitely glad that I took that I went outside my comfort zone, and I took that risk. But just going back to how college has allowed me to make connections, I feel like this college, especially, is very diverse, and my team, especially were a diverse group of girls or women, so I've been able to, like, become close with my teammates, and a lot of them have different, like, cultural backgrounds and stuff like that. So I've learned a lot of different, like, a lot of different things culturally from them that they've experienced while they're growing up. And I've shared, like, stories with them, so they've definitely taught me a lot about different cultures and what they did growing up and just how different life is for, like, different people. And also just some of the people that I've met just going to school and being in classes and stuff, I've learned. I mean, my life is a lot different than a normal student's life. So, I mean, it's kind of. I have friends that are, like, normal students, and it's just like, kind of crazy to see how, like, we go to the same school, like, we are in the same classes, which is, like, our life is so different. So I think that's also something that I've learned a lot about, is just how, like, people can be in the same type of setting, be doing the same exact things in their life, still be, like, so completely different. So I think it's good that I have, like, friends on my team who, like, have different cultural backgrounds I learn from, and then also, like, these People that I've made friends with like in classes and just like learn different things like that they do like with their free time that like maybe the free time that I don't get or just like speaking to them. I've also like met a lot of people from Massachusetts because it is the University of Massachusetts. A lot of, a lot of state kids here. So I never really, I don't think I ever came to Massachusetts before I came to UMass. So I learned like a lot about just like the state in general. A lot of my friends like live in the Boston area and like Worcester. So I've just like learned about like the culture of like Massachusetts and like New England. I guess it's like kind of different from like Delaware. Like Delaware has more of like, I mean I know a lot of people don't really know Delaware that well, but it's more of like a New Jersey, like New York, like Maryland type of like type of state. And I think that just like completely differs from like New England because I feel like New England people are like. When you think of New England people, you think like they're so proper and stuff like that. And then when you think of like people from like New York or Delaware, New Jersey, they're like city people. And it's just like, it's just like cool to see just like how we're so close to each other. Like it's only like a five hour drive from here to Delaware and it's just like how we're so close to each other but it's just like how these different states like act and how like different it is. Even though we're like install still in America and we're only like driving distance away from each other. How different like life is in like Boston or something like that. Like a big city in Massachusetts compared to like a big city like Wilmington. I live in Wilmington in Delaware. Like how different it is living in Wilmington compared to like Boston. Even though they're like a city like in a state like really close to each other. It's just cool to see just like the differences.

09:07 So I have a question for you.

09:09 Yeah.

09:11 When I was in college and your age, the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon and all that stuff was Pentagon Papers and all those things were happening and that was. People talked about it and I'm just curious, do you. Are you insulated from what happens in the world or are you integrated for what's happening in the world with like the war in Russia and the Ukraine and global warming and you know, things of that nature. How does that. How is that part of your life?

09:46 Yeah. So I'm. I mean, I'm going to be completely honest. I do not keep up to date with, like, I know things that go on in this world. Like, I. I know that there is a war going on in Russia and Ukraine. I know that global warming, like, is a problem, but I don't know, like, the specific details. I know. I. Most of the, like, information that I see ends up being, like, on social media. Like, I know a lot of people get their information from the news, like, on TV every morning, and that's what my mom does. But, like, for me, it's like I don't have the news. So, I mean, I have it on my phone, but it's more of like, I learned things from social media. Like something I saw yesterday talking about, like, Ukraine, the Russia war. I think it was either. I don't know what side it was. I don't know if it was Ukraine or Russia, but people and friends were, like, purposely breaking each other's legs so they didn't have to go fight in the war.

10:38 Russia.

10:39 Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just, like, saw in, like, a video. It was just kind of crazy. Like, some guy was laying at the end of a staircase with his leg out, and the other guy was jumped from the top of the staircase to the bottom of the staircase onto his leg. He broke his leg so he didn't have to go to war. And I'm just like, it just seeing that just makes me grateful for, like, what I. What my situation is. I mean, obviously it's really scary to see, and I would never want to be put in that situation, but I feel like it's good to know what is going on in the world. I might not be the most knowledgeable about everything that's going outside of my little bubble, but I definitely try to keep myself up to date with those types of things.

11:19 Okay, good. Yeah. But next year, Next year, What's happening next year? Same as this year.

11:31 I mean, I don't know. I guess I'll find out next year. Yeah.

11:37 I mean, your plan. Your plans are just keep doing what you're doing.

11:41 Yeah.

11:42 Okay.

11:43 Yeah. Yeah. No, for the most part. I mean, I think my plans, obviously next year, I mean, like, next year, like in 2023, so. Going to be in basketball season, so I'm still going to be doing that, so going to be in games, so I'm going to be taking classes, but I don't really have any, like, big plans or big changes in 2023 as of right now. As of right now. But I'm sure, like, a year is a long time, so, I mean, I'm sure life is going to take me in many different directions, just like 2022 did, so.

12:16 Okay.

12:17 Just gonna have to wait and see.

12:19 Okay. All right. Do you want to cut the recording?

12:24 Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I think.