My first year recap at MNSU

Maria Ly
Staff Writer

In August 2019, I left my home in Rochester to come all the way to Mankato, a foreign place, to start my journey in a university. Even though I had come from a community college, living on my own, making new friends, and experiencing classes in my major was vastly different than what I was used to. 

When I first came to Mankato, I thought I would be miserable as I saw the janky roads, the ugly buildings, and my lack of friends.

I called my sister and my friends from Rochester numerous times, crying about the lack of belonging I felt and missing home. Little did I know, that if I put myself out there that I would find many communities.  

Being a transfer student, especially as a junior, can be tough as the thought of building up your resume breathes heavily behind your neck. In my fall semester I filled every gap with meetings, RSO’s, joining the Reporter, and coursework. 

I went to almost every event on campus. My friends started to tease me for the “busy woman” that I am as I ran around campus. 

Although I burned out, through the Counseling Center and friends, I got fired up again into the spring semester. 

I’ve achieved a lot. I got a scholarship, an internship, numerous awards, a job promotion from a writer to a news editor, winning a presidency in an RSO. Honestly, I don’t know how I did it. 

I’ve gained friends who I love, who’ve supported me, let me vent about girls, who’ve made me the happiest I’ve ever felt. I hope after we graduate, that’ll remain. 

I went on dates, got rejected, and then got rejected again. Although I haven’t found love at MNSU, I think I’m ok with that. Having a college sweetheart would be nice, I have to admit. 

I crashed my car, I lost a lot of money through tuition, I’ve gained ten pounds, I got my heart stomped on, I cried, I cried again, I’ve felt hopeless. 

On the other hand, I also got exactly what I never expected to get. I laughed, I cheered, I celebrated, I finally felt like the stud I always thought I could be. I learned a lot, and for that I’m grateful.