First Semester Ending: A Moment That Feels Unreal

Today was the last day of my classes, and honestly… it still doesn’t feel real. I keep replaying the moment I walked out of that final lecture, like somehow I’m watching myself from outside my own body. It feels like just yesterday I was moving into my dorm, trying to figure out where everything on campus even was, and now I’m already at the end of my first semester of college. Finals are right around the corner, and I’m standing here wondering how time managed to move this fast without me noticing.

Coming in as a freshman — fresh out of senior year, still figuring out who I am and what I want — this semester hit me with a lot. Not in a bad way, just in a real way. College isn’t like high school. There’s no one making sure you’re keeping up, no one reminding you of deadlines, no one telling you exactly what to do next. Suddenly, everything is on you. That kind of independence feels powerful… and overwhelming. Sometimes both at the same time.

But here’s what I learned:
The support is there. The people are there. The resources and opportunities are there.
But none of it matters unless you take that first step.

And taking that step isn’t always easy. I had to learn how to drop my ego, to ask for help when I needed it, to admit when I was confused, to show up even when I felt awkward, embarrassed, or unsure of myself. That part isn’t glamorous. But it’s real. Growth doesn’t come from staying comfortable. It comes from taking that tiny, shaky step into something unfamiliar and trusting that you’ll figure it out along the way.

And surprisingly… I did.

That’s what made this semester feel important. Not the grades, not the assignments, not the routines, but the small moments where I pushed myself. The late nights I didn’t think I’d get through, the mornings I forced myself out of bed, the little victories that no one else sees but matter anyway. Those are the things that changed me the most.

Now finals are coming, but I’m not scared the way I used to be. I’m proud. Really proud. Proud that I kept going. Proud that I didn’t give up on myself. Proud that I learned things I didn’t think I was capable of learning, not just academically, but personally. I became more patient with myself, more resilient, more honest about what I need.

Finishing this first semester feels surreal. It feels like waking up from a dream but stepping into a clearer, stronger version of myself at the same time.

Here’s to the end of this chapter, the beginning of the next, and all the moments of courage, big and small — that carried me here.

Because somehow, even on the hardest days, you make it through. And you keep growing.