Fall on campus always feels like a fresh start. There is a buzz that surrounds the new freshman class, who step into the unknown with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Each year in college brings its own transitions for everyone. Freshman year gets attention for its novelty and senior year for its nostalgia, but the truth is that change is happening all the time, just in quieter ways. Moving from one year to the next brings subtle and heavy changes, with every one requiring its own set of adjustments. These transitional years rarely get the spotlight, but they matter just as much and it is important to recognize the parts that no one talks about.
Freshman and senior years are the ones that typically are glamorized. But what about the years in the middle? If anything, they are the most formative and quietly shape your identity, unfolding in the background of your life. The initial excitement has worn off and you’re left standing in an in between,”, no longer just starting out, but not yet at the finish line. You aren’t a beginner anymore, but let’s be honest, we all still have things we’re figuring out, no matter how long you’ve been here. New roommates, living environments and classes — these changes are what shapes you and allow you to come into yourself. They may seem insignificant at the time, but they remind us that college is an ever-changing experience and you will change with it.
It has been exactly one year since the one of the most daunting experiences of my life — the day that I first moved into Cornell University. To be honest, I think I blocked the day out of my memory, as to protect myself from the sheer dread that I felt concerning the entire situation. It was such an uneasy feeling, not knowing who my friends would be or how long it would take for things to feel normal. Now that I am returning for my sophomore year, I feel a great sense of gratitude that I have already settled into life at school. Now, the freshmen (Class of 2029), are currently the ones that carry that weight on their shoulders. The pressure is now on a different group of people and I get to experience the new year from a different perspective.
While it is intimidating to begin college in a new place, freshmen generally know the fundamentals of what to expect when arriving. There are checklists of dorm essentials, plenty of orientation week activities to make new connections and a million TikTok videos revolving around tips for freshman year. What no one warns you about is the transition that comes after — freshman year to sophomore year, to junior year and so on. What I have come to realize upon starting my second year is that change does not come all at once. It sneaks in gradually in the form of new routines and new faces. Friend groups shift, or you even might feel the need to change your major. There is a realization that some things about last year will never be the same.
I remember the day I was picked up to go home last summer. I started crying the minute I walked out of my dorm room for the last time, knowing that I would never be back again. Maybe that’s just my emotional side, but I know others felt a similar heaviness when closing the door on freshman year. Change is something that’s hard to grasp, especially in this fast paced environment that college brings and it’s often difficult to keep up. While I loved the comfort of being home for the summer, I was eager to return back to school. I missed the proximity of my friends, my classes and even the late night study sessions. I was ready to jump back into the high-speed lifestyle that Cornell has to offer. I craved the feeling of being back on campus, and when I saw the first sign for Ithaca, it felt like slipping back into a routine I had been craving.
Since moving in a week ago, I can say that many things have remained the same. I still enjoy an iced coffee from Bus Stop Bagels in the morning and still sit in my favorite seat at Mann Library. But I’ve also come to terms with the fact that some of my favorite parts of freshman year are gone. I miss the constant chaos of Mary Donlon Hall and having my best friend just a flight of stairs away. I miss the morning walks to class across the bridge overlooking Beebe Lake and the way everything around me felt brand new. These micro changes may seem insignificant and less dramatic than the leap into freshman year, but they are still an adjustment.
I am nostalgic for the life I lived last year, but also excited to create new experiences and traditions in the future. It is bittersweet, but it reminds me to appreciate the moment I’m in and accept that change is a part of life. Even the best things must come to an end, but endings open the door to new beginnings — ones that may turn out to be even better than you expected.
To the new class: everything feels like it’s moving fast, but take a moment to pause and appreciate where you are right now. Before long, the scenery will shift and what once felt ordinary will turn into the moments you miss the most. The days you’re in now won’t last forever, but that’s the beauty of it all. Learn to embrace the change and make the most of each season of life.
Martha Dolan is a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She can be reached at mmd289@cornell.edu.
