Â鶹´«Ã½

There tends to be a familiar feeling about reaching a milestone that makes you pause and look back on your journey. As I have started my senior year at the University of New Haven, I have caught myself thinking about the person I was stepping onto campus and comparing it to the person I am today. So much has changed since then – not necessarily in the ways that I expected it, but my experiences as a Â鶹´«Ã½ have definitely helped shaped me into the person I am today.

My senior year has started, and it has always felt like something that was far away. For such a long time, graduation was a date on the calendar that seemed a long way off, but it is true when people say four years flies by quickly. Even though there is still so much to look forward to, I think that one of the most important parts of reaching a milestone is taking the time to appreciate the journey you had that brought you there.

Coming into college, I didn't know what to expect, and my time here has not always looked the way I imagined it would. There were times when I wondered if I was doing enough or if I was moving toward my goals at a decent speed. I think many can relate to this.

Over time, I have learned that everything you plan won't take place when you expect it to, and that does not mean progress is not being made. Sometimes, the path that we take will look different from the one we envisioned, and that's okay. The only thing that matters is that we continue to move forward and allow ourselves to grow along the way.

Looking back on my previous years, I realize that some of the things that I am doing now are things that I didn't imagine happening when I first arrived on campus. This year, as part of my 4+1 program, I have started my graduate studies while completing my senior year. Also, I have started my first year as a Resident Assistant as well as looking forward to joining a research project team with one of my professors.

Each of these opportunities allows me to continue learning, meet new people, challenge myself, and find the areas that I may want to pursue in the future. Joining a research project is an opportunity that I am looking forward to, as it gives me a chance to learn outside of the traditional classroom setting and explore in a hands-on way.

"Being delayed doesn't mean you have failed, as an unexpected path is not necessarily the wrong one." Shana-Kay Hyde ’27

Moreover, becoming a Resident Assistant is also a new chapter for me. Alongside being a student, I now have the opportunity to help create a welcoming community for other students. I am looking forward to continuing to get to know my residents, building connections, and being the individual they can turn to throughout the year for help. More than anything, I hope to contribute to an environment where students feel comfortable and supported.

Looking at all these changes shows me how different my college experience is in comparison to how I imagined it would be when I arrived and how grateful I am. I am appreciative of all the opportunities that have come my way, but I am also thankful for the challenging moments that have taught me to be patient with myself. Not everything has happened based on the timeline I wanted, and that's okay.

I realized that, at times, we tend to put pressure on ourselves to know exactly what we are going to do and when. But that may not always be the case, and I have learned that it is possible to move forward without knowing exactly what is waiting around the corner.

As I start this year, I am trying to focus more on being present, appreciating what I have now, and working and planning toward my future instead of constantly worrying about what's next. There is still time along the road, from completing my undergraduate degree and continuing my graduate studies to exploring research and growing into my role as an RA. I do not know exactly what each experience will bring, but I am excited to find out.

If you are currently in a place that is not where you hoped you would be, do not let it make you believe that you are not making any progress. Being delayed doesn't mean you have failed, as an unexpected path is not necessarily the wrong one.

As I look toward graduation, there are still many things I want to accomplish, but I also know that I do not need to rush everything at once. For now, I will make the most of my senior year, continue learning, welcome the new experiences ahead of me, and appreciate the people and moments that are making this chapter of my life so meaningful.

So, wherever you are in your journey, give yourself grace for how far you have come. Continue to work toward what matters to you, stay open to the opportunities you will encounter, and don't be afraid to take a different path when life takes an unexpected turn.