As another year winds down, a new freshman class is getting ready to enter Cabrini. Meanwhile the current freshman class is wrapping up their first year at college and getting ready to become upperclassmen.
“My Cabrini experience so far has been so incredible. It has been above and beyond what I had expected,” Kyla Cavanaugh, history and American studies, secondary education major, said.
The changes in freshmen from the beginning of the year until the end of the year are drastic. They have made new friends, had new life experiences, lived on their own for a year, started working towards a career and matured.
“I think I’ve matured a lot since August. For the first time I didn’t live with my parents and I didn’t have a strong support group like my family to back up on,” Sarah Pinard, freshman social work major, said. “At first it was really hard to be on my own but I found good friends and we all help each other get through the rough patches. I don’t think I would have been able to help others like that at the beginning of freshman year.”
One of the biggest adjustments for freshmen entering college is living away from home and sharing everything with other people. Students no longer have the comfort of their home and the familiarity of their family.
“Living away from home has taught me how to take care of myself and manage my time better. Since I didn’t have anyone reminding me what I need to do I was really flustered at the beginning but I’ve been able to find a balance between doing what I want and doing what I need,” Pinard said.
Although it may be tough to get settled in as freshmen, a majority of the students eventually find their niche and settle in with a good group of friends.
“I was involved in a living and learning community (LLC), the Voices of Justice (VOJ). Without being in the LLC, making friends would have been 10 times harder and the friendships I made probably wouldn’t have been as strong,” Maria Mulrine, freshman social work and psychology major, said. “I would definitely live another year with the VOJ. We had too much fun together to pass up another opportunity to repeat it.”
While students are busy making new friendships and experiencing their newfound freedom, they are also building bonds with their professors that will last their four years at Cabrini. Professors not only guide students in classes, they help them make vital choices that may lead them down a career path.
“I belong to a living and learning community and our group is made up of some of the most amazing people I know. Our professors Dr. Mace, Dr. Watterson and Dr. Rademacher have all had such an impact on my academics. I can’t express enough thanks to them,” Cavanaugh said.
If there is anything to be said about freshman year of college it is that it is filled with new experiences, new memories, new relationships and sense of independence. As freshmen students begin to figure out who they are and what they want to do for their next three years.
“I’m looking forward to whatever sophomore year has to offer,” Cavanaugh said. “If I could give any incoming freshman advice it would be to make friends, put yourself out there and join a club or team. There’s nothing better than having friends to help you through the process of freshman year.”
