“WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER!” they yelped with great enthusiasm. But this time, they weren’t saying it to me. The new freshmen walked into their residence halls, overwhelmed with the orientation staff’s lively welcome chants. I stood alongside the orientation staff wearing my bright lime-green Resident Advisor shirt with a nervous smile on my face. “Holy crap…I’m a sophomore” I thought to myself. No longer was I (or the rest of the Class of 2015 for that matter) the fresh-face on campus. The events and publications on school were no longer marketed towards me, but to the brand new, Class of 2016.
My mind spun out of control. “Oh god, I have to declare my major this year.” “I need to apply to internships.” “I wish I would have gone a little crazier during freshman year.” “God, I despise how Greek life reigns over the social atmosphere here.” “WHY DO I EVEN GO HERE?!” Suddenly, everything began to gnaw at my brain. It was a mid-college crisis settling deep into my skin.
I began consulting with older students around me and inquired about their sophomore year of experiences. I soon realized, that my mid-college crisis was not uncommon at all. In fact…it was extremely common, actually, probably 100{53c6eff5ce19621f7316832cfedf08caab022021f1679c62c3f44b8900ceaf72} common. “It was awful.” my friend Melissa (senior) said. “It’s like you’re in this weird limbo stage in your college career; you’re still trying to figure out who your real friends are, you may or may not be in a relationship and you begin to hate those perfect couples that hit it off so perfectly during freshmen year, and you get bored with your major and suddenly think your whole life is now off-track. Sophomore year is just unsettling…it’s like a nasty purgatory. I promise it gets better!” Melissa’s words of encouragement gave me great hope.
I’m honestly doing great. My grades are pretty good so far (midterms went pretty well), I love my freshmen residents, I’m President of the LGBTQIA group on campus and it’s been working out very well! I’m feeling good about my achievements. But there’s this weird place where my mind is at, and it’s just so darn unsettling. I’m just glad to know I’m not alone in the struggle. Here’s me hoping that I’ll be over this mid-college crisis soon. Does anyone else think I’d look awesome with red hair? Okay, this needs to stop.
With hopes & dreams intact,
Alex Montes