Well, folks--I did it. I survived my first semester at college.
As a first-year, going into my first semester was daunting; I had no idea what to expect. After the breezy orientation week, I found myself in a state of perpetual anxiety wondering what my classes would be like, how hard managing my schedule would be, and if I would make any actual friends. Now that I have successfully completed fall of 2025, I can say with the utmost confidence that I enjoyed every moment. So, I’m here to share some highlights of my first semester as a college freshman.
Classes
I took six classes this semester, including my LEAD class and one ExCo. LEAD is a class that teaches first-year students about how to navigate Oberlin College. Taught by PALs (Peer Advising Leaders), this class covers everything from Winter Term to job opportunities on campus. Additionally, I took an ExCo this semester. ExCo stands for “Experimental College,” where students and members of the larger Oberlin community can teach classes on generally whatever they want. I was in SexCo which focuses on sexual education, consent, and how sex is treated in society. I want to work full time at the SIC (Sexual Information Center) in the next few years, so this class was crucial to learning everything I need to know. This semester, I also took Introduction to Sociology, Foundations of Theater, Clinical Counseling Psychology, and my first-year seminar, Neuroscience and Pop Culture. These classes all intimidated me at first, but eventually I learned the ropes of how to succeed in a real college classroom setting. The most valuable thing I took away from classes this semester was the importance of establishing relationships with your professors. Go to office hours, participate regularly in class, ask questions, and if you’re going to skip, at least send them an email.
Performances
I’m very active in extracurriculars at Oberlin, specifically performance-based ones. This semester I joined one of the college’s many acapella groups, called The Oberlin Acapelicans. This is Oberlin’s youngest “treble voices” acapella group on campus, and getting to be a part of it has been such a wonderful experience. Our first performance was the annual “Study Break” in the Dye Lecture Hall where every group performed two songs. It was great getting to see the other groups share their unique abilities (and the outfits were to die for). I was shocked to see how big the audience was for this concert, but if there's one thing you can count on Obies for, it’s showing up to listen to acapella. We also performed in Finney Chapel during parents weekend, and that was an experience I’ll never forget. The acoustics in the chapel are actually magical, and I even got to sing a solo! In addition to acapella, I also did some theater this semester, performing in OMTA/OSTA’s production of Wet Skeleton, written by Gabriel Semrau. Meeting so many talented individuals and getting to work with such a rich script was a highlight of my semester. If you didn’t get a chance to see this insane show, you missed out. I’m also very excited to share that this semester I auditioned for the department’s main-stage musical Fun Home and was cast as Medium Alison! This show will be performed during the first week of February after Winter Term, so make sure to get your tickets soon!
Friendships
Without a doubt, the most influential aspect of this semester was the friendships I made. A lot of people coming to college for the first time are scared of not making any real friends, and this was my biggest fear as well. Considering I have a single in an upperclass residence hall, I had a sinking feeling that I would spend the entire semester alone. This, thankfully, was not the case at all. However, I wouldn't have made these important connections, if I didn’t put myself out there. I know as a first-year student, staying in your dorm and not going anywhere sounds appealing, but it’s crucial that you attend every concert, orientation event, and get together as often as you can. My Oberlin College experience would not be the same without my amazing friends, so take this as a sign to put yourself out into the world and make some connections you’ll never forget.
