A Look Back at Freshman Year

Eleven months ago, I was getting ready for prom, graduating high school, and spending every day with my best friends. And then, in the blink of an eye, I was at Purdue– alone, hundreds of miles away from the people I had spent the last eighteen years with. Honestly, it was hard to look past the life that I had grown out of. But, as the leaves fell and the temperatures dropped, I began to bloom into a better version of myself. As I wrap up my second semester, here’s a look back at my freshman year at Purdue!

Community:

People at Purdue come from all walks of life.  I’ve been able to meet people who have lived in many different countries and those who have never left their hometown. I’ve always considered myself an introvert (the type of person to panic if they have to start a conversation). But, through Boiler Gold Rush, the B-involved fair, and my classes, I’ve found that I’ve begun to strike up conversations with whoever is around me. People here have so much to offer, whether in their experiences, their talents, or their personalities. I find that I learn things from every new person that I talk to at Purdue– the perks of being at a Big 10 school!

Extracurriculars:

During my second week here, Purdue held their annual B-involved fair. There were hundreds of clubs that had set up shop in the 100 degree weather. Walking around, I felt overwhelmed with the amount of possibilities there were to explore my interests (and by the amount of free stuff being given away!). I remember going to tons of callouts– from the Fashion and Retail club to Purdue Space Program. I found my own ways to get involved with the community, including volunteering. I was able to get involved in Purdue Space Day, where I helped third and fourth graders build bottle rockets. I also volunteered for Girl Scout Day hosted by the Society of Women Engineers, where I was able to work with Girl Scouts and help them make bridges out of household materials. I remember being in middle school, struggling through these activities while discovering my passions, so being able to give back in this way was extra special to me! 

More than anything, I am so glad to be a part of the Women in Engineering (WiE) community at Purdue. My first semester, I joined the WiE Recruitment Project Committee (RPC), and helped cultivate the WiE’s social media! There, I was able to meet some close friends both in and out of my intended major. My second semester, I joined the WiE WE Link Leadership team, and now get to work with some incredibly accomplished women who I look up to. Being a part of WiE's RPC and WE Link Leadership Team has allowed me to develop my passion for advocating for women as well as meet some incredible people, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for the world. 

Classes:

I came into Purdue with just a little bit of engineering experience and even less of an understanding of coding. The syllabi that my teachers handed out seemed pretty strict, with the different point systems and so many different assignments. As the school year began to ramp up, I began to feel unsure of myself and my capabilities. Having grown up self-reliant, I struggled on my own throughout my first semester. While I scraped by, I realized in my second semester that something had to change. I began going to my professor’s and TA’s office hours at the first sign of struggle. I even attended my first Supplemental Instruction session! In fact, in an exam for one of my classes there was a concept that I would not have understood had I not gone to the SI session the day before! Overall, I have really begun advocating for myself. At the end of the day, you can’t get through engineering alone! 

The biggest difference I see in myself is that I have really grown to love learning. In high school, while I enjoyed my classes, I always felt my eyes glossing over the textbook pages and presentation slides. At Purdue, I began to really love what I was learning, no matter how difficult it was. Coming into college, I felt unsure about whether I even wanted to do engineering. I was always asking myself: Is engineering right for me? Am I even capable? But if there is one thing my first year at Purdue has taught me, it's that I’m right where I need to be.

Conclusion:

The idea of leaving your home and coming to college can be scary, but there are so many women before you who have done it and thrived! With that, here are a few pieces of advice from some women in engineering looking back on their first year:

“It’s okay to feel homesick and like you don’t belong at first. Try to branch out and meet as many new people as you can and join the clubs you want to join. You may feel like you don’t belong at first, but slowly make a second home for yourself!”

Tiffany Lu, ME '28     

“Create a good organizational system early, so it is easier to stay on top of assignments!”

Megan Wagner, IE '28

“Be open minded and try new things! There are so many different opportunities on campus that are completely free! I’ve learned how to 3D print resin replicas of human organs, play the game Ddakji, and talk to various recruiters at career fairs.”

Haley Self, BME '28

  

“Make sure you prioritize your mental health over everything! Mental health is a marathon, not a sprint. Joining clubs and organizations is a great way to take a break from studying, as well as building your support system here, especially if you’re far from home!”

Olivia Varmo, BME '28

“Push yourself at the start of the semester, attend all the callouts that interest you. The transition into college can feel tough, so having a little bit of insight into what clubs are out there and what the time commitments look like helps it be a lot less scary to try things in the future.”

Medha Karumuri, ME '28

“Do not let fear of failing stop you from trying new things! Asking questions and accepting that you don’t know something can be uncomfortable, but everyone has to start somewhere. To learn how to swim you have to first dip your feet in the water! ”

Disha Kalia, ME '28, WE Link Leadership Team

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