There are plenty of ways to say that something is coming to a close—the curtain falls, the end is near, and for the fans of Game of Thrones, winter is coming. This is precisely where we have found ourselves, nearing the end of another year at Gustavus, which means that it is also the natural time for reflection. We reflect on our choices for classes, we reflect fondly on the professors that inspired us, and we reflect, perhaps not so fondly, on the many strenuous nights of little sleep and a lot of typing . . . and coffee. We reflect on the sporting events, the CAB events, that night when we went to the Dive un-enthused, but ended up dancing like an idiot anyways because we just wanted to have fun. Reflection is natural and inevitable.
If you don’t know me, you may have guessed from the tone of this article that I am a senior who is tearfully looking back on their time here at good old GAC. But you’re wrong. I am an awkward first-year, one who pretty much struggles on a daily basis. I am a first-year who called Co-ed “Norelius” during orientation. I am a first-year who questioned every little thing during my first few months as a college student—should I request to go to the bathroom in the middle of class or just silently and awkwardly leave, should I get involved in swing club even though I am totally uncoordinated, should I even be here at Gustavus? All these questions, ranging from petty to serious thoughts that kept me awake on those late nights when I should have been sleeping, have all played a role in my several months here at Gustavus. These questions that I constantly and consistently ask myself also played a role in my timely and inevitable reflection process.
Before you start to think that I do not hold any true credibility on this matter because I am only a college freshman, let me instill onto you a personal philosophy: I believe that our lives are full of “first years.” This past year was my first-year of being a Gustie, and for Seniors, next year will be a first-year filled with the unknown possibilities that lie ahead. Our past and future are filled with first time experiences, moments of promise that rarely come to us in nicely wrapped packages. No, because most of the time these hints of potential prospects come into our lives wrapped in mystery and sometimes inconvenience. It is not until the year is done, no matter how long in literal time that ‘first year’ spans out to be, when we realize what exactly we hold dearly in our hands. In a way, it’s like finally finishing that giant and impossible looking puzzle where you finally see the picture that you’ve created.
So as my first-year at this college is winding down, the puzzle is becoming more complete and I can finally look back at lessons I have learned and what I had done that has gotten me this far. But out of everything that happened in this past year, there are some lessons that could possibly ring true for any first-year, at any point in their life.
Lesson number one: Some relationships aren’t worth it. I am all for being cordial, polite, and professional, but if you find yourself in situation where your putting in way more effort than your counterpart just to keep a friendship, it’s probably time to re-evaluate the situation. Trust me when I say that it is a lot more enjoyable and less stressful to be around people that enjoy your company and equally try to make any sort of relationship work.
Lesson number two: You will encounter times when you don’t want to do something, but in your best interest try it anyways for the experience and knowledge. This can be related to the days of doing chores at your house, or the few classes at college that you dread attending, and possibly the work engagements or projects that hold little to no interest for you. Even if you dread doing it, do it anyways because the worst thing that could happen if you attend that Calculus class you hate so much is that you might actually learn something. I know—the horror.
Lesson number three: Make your life count. This lesson really shouldn’t need any more explanation, but I’ll provide it anyway. Life moves fast, and I know that because I can still recall the small knot on the drive up the hill during orientation, the exact clothes I was wearing, and my mom’s words of wisdom when we said good bye. Life moves fast, and I know that my time here at Gustavus is narrowing down so I know that I should be doing everything in my power to not have regrets, and to live my days on campus to the fullest.
So I’m sorry I’m not a tearful senior who is fondly looking back and saying goodbye to this campus, because frankly this article might be a little better if I was. However, I know that if I didn’t express the things I learned during my first-year as of today, these lessons may have been lost amongst the hundreds of things I will learn by the time that I do graduate from good old GAC.

-Ellie Sherwin