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One thing I wish I knew before college is that I really know nothing at all. Deciding to attend UT was a last-minute switch on decision day. I had my sights set on a different business school and was completely ready to go. That was in 2020, and soon into
the new year, the life I had known had completely changed. Isolated from the things that made me happy like hanging out with friends and spending time with extended family, I took this time to reflect on what I wanted out of college, especially after missing out on my senior year. On the very last day, I hastily made the decision to attend the orange cow school for the next four years.
With the limitations of a global pandemic, I knew the transition would not be smooth. I stayed home the first semester of my freshman year, taking remote classes and working a part-time job to keep me busy and socializing. It was a fever dream. I had looked up to college students in movies and shows for as long as I could remember, excited to live on my own college dreams and be in control of my own life. Yet, I was stuck in an endless cycle of taking my zoom classes from bed and seeing the same people every day.
When sophomore year began, I was genuinely and utterly lost. I was a kindergartener again, on her first day of school, being walked into the classroom and approached by adults speaking a language I barely knew. I was still learning the layout of the UTC, exploring Guad in my free-time, and getting tabled on Speedway because I looked like a clueless freshman on campus for the first time. I joined as many clubs as I could, and although only a few stuck, those few became the ones that mattered.
As cheesy as it sounds, college is truly a place of endless opportunity. This is probably the last time you will be surrounded by driven and inspired individuals of the same age group so take advantage of it. I was lucky enough to discover KS WELI during my sophomore year and it has given me a safe place to feel inspired. It’s so important to not only discover your own path, but empower others and encourage the world to follow.
About The Author:
Jessica Yang'24
Management Information Systems
Student Board Member - VP of Finance
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