I have experienced many different highlights throughout my first semester here at the University of New England. There have been a few lows during this semester but there have been many more highs.
I will explain my highlights from least favorite to most favorite.
1) My least favorite highlight would be saying bye to my parents after moving in. Seeing my Dad get emotional was a big thing for me. I didn’t expect him to cry, but I know those tears were not all sadness but being proud. He has seen me work very hard to reach my goals and going to college here at UNE was a big one. It was reassuring to know that he was proud of me, but it was hard saying bye.
2) My second least favorite highlight would be Statistics class. I have never been a fan of math, and taking statistics has been a challenge, but I have been keeping a good grade of a B. I am proud of myself because I keep studying and going to class even when it is hard.
3) The next highlight would be having my Forensic Eyewitness Interviews class be on zoom at the beginning of the semester. This made it very difficult to know what assignments were due. Now my professor is in person and I love that class even more, having a professor be in person is very important to me. I believe I learn better that way.
4) Getting pizza at a restaurant called Pizza by Alex. The pizza was very good and I enjoyed going with my friends but the pizza ended up burning the roof of my mouth,
which ended up hurting for a few days.
5) In the beginning of the semester I helped my twin sister move into her dorm. This was a hard thing for me to do because I am very much protective over her. She is doing great in college and I know I have nothing to worry about, it was just a shock because we are both growing up. We are not little kids anymore running around in princess dresses and plastic tiaras.
6)My next highlight would be a pumpkin carving night that I did with my Forensic Eyewitness Interviews class. All of us in the class have gotten close and decided to carve pumpkins together. It was a very fun experience, I am glad I went.
7) Paintball was a big highlight of this semester. It was something I have never done before, I am glad I got to go. Joining Outing Club was a very good decision.
8) Also, joining StrongHER was a good choice. Joining this all female workout class has taught me not just new ways to workout but I have also made new friends.
9) On September 29th, I saw the most beautiful sunset. It was an amazing view. I ran to get my disposable camera to take some photos with my friends.
10) My favorite highlight would be the friends I have made here. I have some friends from high school here but meeting new people has been great. I definitely feel like I have found my people here at UNE.
To conclude, I feel very fortunate for all the memories and highlights I have experienced here at UNE. I am so fortunate and feel blessed for the college experience I have had here. I was worried about how college was going to go for me, but I now know I had nothing to worry about. I wouldn’t trade any of the highlights I have had for anything, even if those highlights were not the best.
Throughout my first semester at UNE, I have done various campus activities and participated in classes that have made my time more enjoyable. Though there are many different events, there are ten that stand out more than the rest. Each of these events gave me something that will follow me through my college experience.
On the second day at UNE, most of my dorm hall floor worked together to create a flag to represent us. This was the first time I was able to form new relationships that have continued into the semester.
The first UNE football game was one of the first events I attended. Though football is not my favorite sport to watch, this showed me the culture surrounding the community.
Going to the beach to watch the sunset with my roommate and many other girls on my floor was a great bonding experience for all of us and allowed us to enjoy the last few moments of summer weather.
Weekly trivia in the commons was a fun way to get out of my dorm room and spend time with new and old friends.
Going on a boat ride through the Saco River in Intro to Environmental Issues allowed me to see campus from a different perspective.
Participating in the Meals for Maine food packing activity was the first volunteer activity I did while being here. This event showed me how the UNE community is able to come together to support those in need.
Being a part of the Pre-Pharmacy club allowed me to connect with others in my major and talk about how our experiences are similar.
Having a one-on-one meeting with my pharmacy faculty mentor helped me feel more comfortable with this new experience and created a connection that I will have throughout my time at UNE.
Getting a 94 on my first ever college exam gave me confidence and reminded me why I am here.
Having many guest speakers come into my Careers in Pharmacy class showed the just a few of the options I have, making me even more excited for pharmacy school and my future career.
Overall, these events have each given me something unique from one another. Though I am only finishing up my first semester, I have already learned so much about myself and this University. Reflecting on some of my favorite moments and memories makes me eager to continue my education and keep developing new skills and relationships that could last throughout my life.
College for me has been full of new experiences, lots of good memories, and even quite a few challenges I have had to learn to navigate. Overall looking back at my journals and beyond assignments, I would say a common theme I notice is growth. I feel as though I have grown both academically as a student and also personally as well. There have been so many highlights from this semester alone, but here are ten for now.
One highlight for this semester is my classes in general. Overall the current classes I am taking are all somewhat enjoyable to me for different reasons. While most of them have nothing to do with my major, it has been fun to learn about various different subjects and also meet all the new people I have through my classes.
Another highlight to this semester has been passing all of my classes with relatively good grades. The workload in college, at least for me, has been significantly more than high school and a highlight of this semester has been seeing me keep up with everything I have been getting and not fall behind at all.
Additionally, another highlight from this semester has been joining a club to get more involved. I joined the student nursing association club and it has been fun to get involved and meet new people.
Another highlight from this semester was when I got a 90 on one of my bio exams. Biology has never been one of my strong subjects so seeing my studying pay off for bio and do good has definitely been a highlight.
Another highlight from this semester has honestly been me commuting rather than living on campus. I honestly really don’t mind commuting since I only live 20 minutes away and I feel like it has given me a perfect balance.
Another highlight from this semester has been learning new study methods and what works best for me. Learning new ways to study and what will work best for me has helped so much through this semester and I have noticed such an improvement through doing this.
Additionally, another highlight has been really focusing on my time management so that I have time for all of the things that need to be done. I was pretty stressed in the beginning of the semester with the workload and how I was going to have time to do everything, but as the semester progressed I learned to manage my time.
Another highlight has been getting out of my comfort zone more this semester. I have really challenged myself by getting out of my comfort zone this semester and doing new things I didn’t think I ever really would.
In addition, another highlight I have from this semester is growing more as a person. I feel like this semester I have just really grown as a person and learned new things about myself.
My favorite highlight from this semester has been making new friends. I have loved making new friends this semester and I have made a couple of really close friends here which has really helped UNE and my classes seem more fun.
In conclusion, this semester has had a lot of highlights overall and for just the first semester, I would say it has gone very well and some of the highlights will really help me in future semesters a s well.
Throughout the first semester in the first year seminar, we talked about many different topics. This essay and video are going to cover just 10 of those things.
This paragraph is the highlights and why I chose them:
Now that the highlights are out of the way I am going to talk about each one and why I chose it. For number 10 I never really liked talking about AI in class because I felt like it was getting a little repetitive with what was being said.
Number 9 trying to choose my classes, and knowing that I may not get the order or schedule that I want and created stressed me out a little and still does but I know that if I do what I was told I have a high possibility of getting most of the classes that I want.
Number 8 is going to the different sporting events and events around campus because I get to see new people and maybe meet someone and they are always really fun to go to.
Number 7 is the weekend talks in freshman seminar because I really enjoy talking about things I did or things that others have done and hearing everything that happened.
Number 6: I feel that I had a pretty good amount of independence when I was growing up. My parents just wanted to make sure that I was safe and that was understandable, but being in college they can’t really say anything and I have to do things on my own.
Number 5 is where it is because I was so happy that I was passing all my classes but I felt like there were more important things that happened.
Number 4 where it is because that is something that I am still doing and I feel like with every year it happens no matter how long you’ve been in college and it is something that everyone goes through.
Number 3 it started out kind of hard for me to make some friends but throughout the semester I have found people who are fun to be around and are similar in liking things and similar to me.
Number 2 really sticks with me because in highschool tech crew was never really appreciated for all that we do and it kind of hurt a little but when I signed up they were really happy that a techie signed up.
For my overall absolute favorite highlight it has to be when I was put in a kindergarten classroom. That is one of the grade levels that I want to teach and so it is nice to be in one and see all those specific room functions and the routine that they have, along with taking notes on things the teacher does like behavior corrections or redirections.
In conclusion I feel that it was nice to take time and look back at the year so far, along with maybe some consistency on the activities that were most memorable. I think that personally I have a wide range of things that were most memorable or meaningful because of what they were or the people it was with. I am so happy and grateful to have gotten the experiences that I have and cannot wait to have more.
For my highlight reel I choose to capture the 10 moments so far that stood out to me the most. I have chosen to rank them from least monumental to most monumental.
10. First day of classes
9. Oob arcade
8.acadia national park
7. Soccer games
6. Club field hockey games
5. Neon night Free skate/free skate in general
4.field hockey games
3. First football game
2.hoco/parents weekend
1. Hockey games
Starting at #10: Being able to share this huge moment with all my friends was a great reminder that we are all experiencing this for the first time and being able to share that with them was a great experience. Having their support while dealing with the nerves and excitement was really helpful to feel more at home here. Even though we all have very different class schedules, being able to share the moment before some of us went to class was a lot of fun for all of us. Moving on to #9: Going to the old orchard beach arcade with my friends was so much fun and such a great way to get off campus and still spend time together. We didn’t plan to end the night that way but it was so much fun. #8 is a big one: Going to Arcadia on a whim with my friends was so much fun and such a great way to spend a weekend. We planned our trip a day in advance and just decided to go up to visit. Having the freedom to just leave and go explore something none of us had ever seen was such a fun experience and really allowed us to see new things. We have already started to plan another trip this time with a little more preparation. #7: Going to soccer games was a weekly occurrence for all my friends. Having a friend on the team made everyone want to go to his home games to support him and cheer on our school. It was also a nice way for all of us to come together even without busy schedules. We always had Tuesday night soccer. #6: Field hockey has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember so being able to continue it to some extent in college was a great way to help make my transition easier. When games started up I began to connect with my team better and grow a bond with a lot of them. #5: As soon as me and my friends had time to go to free skate we went. Having the time to do something with my roommates specifically was so much fun and a great way to bond with them.
Josie Eliot
Work done in class on 11/07/25
My first semester in college was pretty hectic, a nonstop rush of activity and a whole new challenge of balancing academics and sports that completely changed me as a person. Over the past few months, I’ve learned a lot about myself and the kind of person I’m becoming. I realized that there’s never enough time in the day to do everything, and that finding balance is essential between getting things done and remembering to take care of yourself along the way. At some point this semester, I began to truly grasp what independence means. I’ve always thought of myself as independent, but college has shown me that true independence comes with new responsibilities and a deeper sense of self-reliance. While it’s been challenging and, at times, anxiety-inducing, this experience has also led me to new friendships, countless opportunities, and a genuine sense of belonging here.
I haven’t had the chance to attend a lot of campus events but the ones I did attend I had a really good time and would definitely attend them in the near future. Starting at number ten in my highlight reel I said attending a field hockey game one of my friends from my dorm had her first club field hockey game, and I got to go support her! They didn’t win, but they played really well, and it was so fun to watch and learn more about the sport. Something cool I found out is that field hockey has unlimited substitutions, which I thought was wild coming from a sport who has limited substitutions!
Coming in at number nine, I finally got the chance to take a break after my second round of exams and go on a nature walk in Biddeford Pool with some friends. It was a much-needed escape, I had been studying nonstop and hardly spending any time outside. Getting off campus, breathing in the fresh sea air, and wandering around looking at houses was a well-deserved and refreshing break.
Taking the eighth spot is attending Trivia night way back in the beginning of the semester with some friends.
I’ve been at UNE for about two and a half months, and a lot of stuff has happened in that time. I have been tasked with creating a highlight reel of my favorite moments at UNE, which I have quite a few. I can define my highlights as times where I had a lot of fun, times where I was intrigued, and times of overcoming adversity.
Chemistry class is number 10 on my list. Chemistry class isn’t fun per se but it is very engaging to me. Chemistry is one of my favorite subjects, I love learning how elements operate to form molecules, how electrons work, molecule bonds, stoichiometry, all of it.
Going out to dinner with my aunt is number 9 on my list. I don’t leave campus much, so when I do it’s a big event for me. My aunt from Massachusetts stopped by to take me to dinner, which was really fun. I got some alright chicken tenders there, which was still great as they serve chicken tenders once a month at the dining hall.
VHS Party is number 8 on my list. VHS party was a comedy show where two guys showed off goofy VHS tapes from the 80s and 90s. This was one of the first days I was at college and I was feeling the emotions, so having this as a distraction from all of that was very nice.
That time when my dad brought me McDonalds is number 7 on my list. My dad was going to work one day and asked me if I wanted some McDonalds while he was passing by (my dad’s a pilot so he has a long commute). I got to see my dad for the second time since I left for college, and I got a holy grail of McNuggets.
I haven’t finished this so whoopsie! I’ll finish this later.
Throughout my first semester in college I have grown a lot as a student, athlete, and person. I have done many new things and met many new people. I’m lucky enough to have built great friendships with my roommates which have made this first part of my college experience much easier and fun. I hope to experience many more things and make many more memories with new or old friends here at college.
I unfortunately had to put my dog down this past month, which was very hard for me due to the fact that I have had her since I was little. But with this came a great surprise. I got a new puppy. She’s a bernese mountain dog, a breed I have always wanted. It was a great feeling after such a tough loss.
My roommates and I have gotten a lot closer throughout the semester. We drove down to Massachusetts a couple weekends ago to see one of my roommate’s family and also took a trip to six flags, which was very fun. I haven’t been to Six Flags in a long time and it was great to go back with my friends and see all of the new rides and share lots of laughs (and screams).
I recently tried water aerobics for the first time with a few of my teammates for an AES project. This was actually much more fun and harder than I expected it to be. It definitely took me stepping outside of my comfort zone and getting in a pool with a bunch of grandmas to do dances and exercise, but overall I had a good time doing it.
A couple weeks ago I scored my first college touchdown, which was very exciting. It felt so much different than high school with the crowd and the pressure. My teammates were ecstatic which made me feel great afterwards.
Before the weather had gotten cold I taught my roommates how to fish. Surprisingly they have never tried it beforehand, but they found it to be fun especially when we hooked onto a big striper. It was great to do something that I had done many times before with old friends, but this time with new ones.
On the topic of trying new things, I got my roommate to go ice skating for the first time at the rink over at the forum. This was another fun activity that I kind of took over the role of the teacher in.
Recently we had our homecoming game, which we won. I got a great surprise after the game because my cousins came down to watch and it was great seeing them again because I haven’t since summer. I was lucky enough to hangout at the tailgate with my family afterwards and catch up (and eat some awesome food).
During my environmental science class we took a boat ride up the Saco river, which was pretty fun because I got to drive the boat. I fish in the Saco river during the summer so it was great to be back on the water. It was a breath of fresh air that I definitely needed.
In my AES class I got the opportunity to test my VO2 max. I had to run on the treadmill for this lab, which was exhausting. But overall, it was a great experience because I have always wanted to do it.
Lastly, I recently started working out at the fitness center with a few of my friends. This was a good escape for me from my typical lifts over at the forum with the team. It felt good being able to do my own thing and get back to my roots.
Overall, I have experienced many new things throughout my first semester at college. I hope to continue making memories with the people I care about and doing the things I enjoy doing.
I think that if there’s any clear thing I’ve learned about entering adulthood, it’s that you can’t experience true growth without real change. For me, going to college was certainly a big change. If you had asked me almost 3 months ago about how my first semester of college is going, I would have said I hated every second of it. But now, if you had asked me that same question, I would tell you that I still hate it, sometimes, but you’ll also hear the opposite; that I have learned to love it. So, what changed? College didn’t change. The campus still holds all of the same classes, people, and places as before. But I did, and here are ten reasons why.
10) Learning to get to my classes. Maybe not many people would consider this a highlight, but I do. Going to college always seemed intimidating to me, but after learning where everything was, and my place in it, everything, almost immediately, felt more manageable.
9) *NOT DONE YET
8)
7)
6) Tuesday Trivia Nights- Connection was always my biggest struggle when first arriving at college. It was’t because I couldn’t; I love meeting and talking with people. But it was because I didn’t really know how to. One night, when going to the pub to get a lemonade, I saw people hosting a trivia night. I had nothing to do so I went over, looked around, and three girls at a table invited me to join them. I said yes, and we ended up having a really great time!
5) Chemistry is a class that I haven’t really made an opinion on yet. It’s my favorite class, but it’s also the reason why I am in the library most times during the day.
The top ten most important moments of this semester for me are as follows, yet may not be in order:
Getting to the top of the wall at evo and looking down, while feeling somewhat comfortable compared to the first time is one because I overcame raw fear to get to the top of the wall.
Sitting in my hammock in the woods in a certain undisclosed location on the phone with my dad, because that was one of the first times I really wanted to do something off the mainstream of things so I just when and did it.
I went to the coffee shop in Biddeford by myself to see a dune grass presentation, because I got out into the community and saw UNE’s impact.
Going to Bryant pond with the GLC, green living community, because that was something I was worried about doing and it ended up changing my perspective drastically on what I wanted to do with my life, and how I should lead it, while I also got to learn about things I could do in the future. It also let me get to know my professors better, as well as my fellow classmates in the GLC.
Being stressed out in chemistry lab, because I will learn how to deal with it better.
Being awoken in at 12:30 to the fire alarm going off, helped teach me to be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Going to the marine science center to report a dead porpoise on the beach, because when I got there I talked with the professors and other students and make connections, as well as a potential research opportunity, which show me I just have to get involved with things I am interested in.
Kalei’s family being in a horrible place taught me how to give long-term support to people I love mentally on my part.
Riding along with a Maine state forest ranger, because it taught me more about what it was like being in the field on that type of job. That in turn will help me in the future when I must choose a job after college. It may open internship opportunities as well.
Being so busy and having it be my actual dissection on if I want to do what I am doing. This has been a challenge this year because the extreme switch to independence and making my day mine, for the most part, has started to help teach me what I should include in my day, or what I should prioritize. This includes finding a balance between social life, academics, and recreational activities.
These things were the first things that came to my mind when I thought of when I thought of important things that I learned, or that happened to me. The list could easily go on, yet I feel this encompasses the major points of my experiences. Many of these can go in the same category and some represent a category by themselves.
My first college semester has been filled with varying moments of varying emotions. I feel like that is what most college kids experience; college is a time of uncertainty, of change and growth and facing the unknown. It’s hard being away from the routine you’ve established at home, regardless of whether or not that routine was good. That has been some of my experience here so far. I’ve had really good moments and really bad moments, and I believe that it is important to remember that growth and change isn’t always polished and perfect. Sometimes it’s messy and chaotic and you don’t know heads or tails, but everything still works out in the end.
My least favorite moment in college was Kevin dying. Kevin is my aunt’s (not actually blood related) cousin. They were both very close growing up, and have maintained a good relationship throughout their adult years. He was so kind and generous with everyone he met, including me. When we first moved up here I felt alone. Him and his family helped me feel less alone. He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS, about six months ago. He fought as best he could, but he died about a week ago. Family events won’t be the same without him.
Talking with my girlfriend/roommate is second on my list. It was really hard and difficult, and I was an anxious wreck leading up to our conversation, but in the end, everything turned out well. She and I discussed changes to make, and how we could better support each other and I never loved her more than in that moment of mutual growth.
I have a condition called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It’s essentially PMS on steroids and dialed up to eleven. It’s something I’ve always struggled with, but ever since coming to college, it’s been even harder attempting to deal with it. In early October, I had the worst episode I’ve had in a while; I was sobbing uncontrollably for well over an hour, and couldn’t get myself to stop. However, I did end up seeking out a support group for PMDD, and it’s helped me so much in accepting who I am and how this disorder affects me.
I have always been a perfectionist. I can’t help it. I need to be good at everything, or even be the best at it, and if I’m not, I feel a little worthless. Getting anything below an 85 in high school for me was outrageous. I would be upset if I did, and think myself stupid on the subject. Since coming to college, I’ve had to reevaluate. I got a 73 on my first big exam in chemistry, and while I did initially freak out, I remembered that exams have no say on my worth as a person, nor does it have anything to do with how much I enjoy a subject. Tough learning moment for me, but incredibly necessary.
I love cooking for people. It’s my way of expressing both myself and my love for the person I’m cooking for. I really like the people on my floor (barring two people). I think they’re all good people, and I like being around them. I made apple pie and apple crisp in late September, and considering I couldn’t eat all of it myself, I had everyone who wanted some come in and eat. It was so nice seeing people I like enjoy my cooking, and I felt so happy.
I love reading. I would say that it’s probably my top hobby/interest. I also love bookmarks. Looking at the pretty designs and using them for my favorite books brings me joy. Women in STEM had an event where we discussed the upcoming semester and made pretty STEM themed bookmarks. I thought it was really nice to be able to talk to people with the same interests as me and make something I enjoyed.
Movie night in the dorms has become a favorite event of mine.
List of moments: (Least to most favorite)
Kevin dying
Talking with Katelyn
PMDD induced breakdown in early October
Getting a 73 on my chem exam
Cooking for the dorm (apple pie and apple crisp)
Making bookmarks for WISTEM
Movie night watching Moana Two
Discussing infectious disease in pharmacy class
Talking about the social stigma around disease in Plagues and Populations
Watching Buffy with my friend and feeling like I finally have a friend group that likes me
Breakfast, beach, & Old Port
Royel Otis concert
Big Thief concert
National Park Trust Hike
Dance of the Damned
Surprising my family
Fall Fest
Bingo
Highlight list:
Breakfast, Beach, & Old Port
While it may be surprising that I pick this first, especially over a concert, I’ve found that my favorite memory thus far has been one of peace. There was one weekend where I had no homework, nothing to do, and lots of time to do it. It was a warm weekend, projected highs in the 80s. My roommate and I were brainstorming on what we should do with our time. We came up with many things: going out to breakfast (a delicacy in college), going to Ferry Beach, or going to Portland. While trying to decide on which to do, we remembered that we had a whole, available day ahead of us. We decided to do it all. First, breakfast of course. We went to an overpriced cafe in downtown Saco, amazing. Then, we went to Ferry Beach. Someone was playing bagpipes, surprising yet serene. I have a vivid memory of lying on the beach with the sun warming my skin, a perfect temperature. Good music was playing. I was happy. After that, we decided to drive to Portland, our destination: the Old Port. We walked around downtown, smoothies in hand and good conversation in the air. Peace, joy, and warmth. When I’m in the library with five assignments due and three exams coming up, I think about this day and smile.
Royel Otis Concert
A week prior, I was trying to find good music to listen to while I studied. Struggling to find exactly what I was looking for, I let Spotify choose what I was listening to. I put it on shuffle, and rediscovered one of my favorite songs from years ago. Sharing this find with my roommate, she said, “Phoebe, I love this song!”, and we started listening to their discography. All of a sudden, something pops up. An advertisement for their upcoming concert, a week out, in Boston. Tickets chosen, in cart, purchased. On the day of, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I left class early (sorry Precalc Professor), and we were off to Boston. My roommate drove, I played music. I waved at everyone we passed on the road, in turn, making some new friends! One person wrote on a notebook while he drove, then held it up to the window. We had a whole conversation like that. His name was Eli. The concert was amazing. We had seats, yet we didn’t sit once. We danced the whole time with the girls next to us. When we left the concert, the Boston air was cool and light, exactly what we needed after dancing for hours.
Big Thief Concert
Big Thief, a band I have adored for years. It was June when I got a notification that they were going on tour this fall. Without knowing who I was going with, I bought two tickets. When the concert was two weeks out, I asked my roommate (having heard her play their music a few times) if she wanted to go with me. She said absolutely she did. It was on a Monday night, and I had an 8am the next morning. But, it was my favorite band and I couldn’t pass that up. This concert was at the State Theater in Portland. Which, to our surprise, is a stunning venue. We had general admission tickets, so we stood (and danced) the whole time. It was a lovely night filled with lovely music. We got home much later than expected, but the memories were worth the dreary eyes the next morning.
National Park Trust Hie
On this weekend, I had no plans. I got a text asking if I wanted to go on a hike. Yes! It was the perfect time of the season, the leaves turning beautifully. It was a dozen young women on a hike, what could be better!? The air was perfect. I made many new friends with similar interests, and had a wonderful time!
Dance of the Damned
Saturday of Halloween Weekend, my roommate and I went to the Dance of the Damned, a halloween themed dance on a boat. We had so much fun! The boat drove around Casco Bay. The DJ played amazing music, I rediscovered my love for dancing, and met new friends.
Surprising my Family
Just a few days ago, my mom sent me a text, a picture of my rabbit. Missing my rabbit, and my family, I made a quick decision to go home after class. However, I wasn’t going to tell anyone.
In this assignment we were asked to rate events in college from worst to best. This immediately triggered a flow of memories of the best and worst times. It is really easy to find the good and bad but harder to really find those meaningful moments in the middle that really made the bulk of my time.
My worst experience was the easiest thing. They found a tumor during my Nana’s routine mammogram. My nana is my main person I go to in life for everything. Breast cancer is some of the most aggressive forms of cancer we can get. My family also chose not to tell me for almost a month until they got more answers. She ended up being fine and it is gone now after a surgery but that was the scariest time of my whole life.
My second worst experience was when my roommate called B flooded my dresser with a water jug and did not tell me. The jug was on top of my dresser and while pouring some out she spilled enough water to make a puddle at the bottom of my wardrobe. This was an accident, but she never told me, my other roommate called A told me after she also had the same problem. B never even acknowledged that it happened and never helped with the clean up.
I had to drop my Pre-calculus class due to a failing grade at midterms. I dropped it so it did not impact my financial aid, but I am still going to lectures. I am retaking the class in spring and calculus is now pushed to over the summer.
We are currently very understaffed at the dining hall which is making shifts more stressful and harder to manage. We have had 4-5 people walk out on us over the course of a month. This lack of staff meansI am now alone on Wednesdays, the busiest day.
I am going to pilates every Thursday when I am not overloaded with homework. It is a lot of fun and a nice challenge but it makes me miss dance so much more than I normally would.
My friends and I did a lot of game nights the first month to get to know each other more. It was so much fun and I now have a close group of friends I really like.
Marine Biology lab is my favorite class by far. I love the topic and the hands-on work we do plus I have the best lab table ever.
Family visiting is a nice little break from the stress. I take the chance to go out and stock up on the things I need. I have really missed my parents and I love seeing them.
I have done a few off campus things like a mini vacation in Old Orchard and a car show with my little cousins. Seeing them made the whole month, they really are my world.
I have been seeing gorgeous stars, comets, and rainbows since I have gotten here. These things are a sign from my family members who have passed and the universe itself telling me that I have made the right choice and I will be ok.
Throughout the course of my first semester of college, I have made so many core memories. I was fortunate enough to find the best group of girls I’ve ever met early on in the semester. Their names are Morgan, Madeline, Jenna, Julia, Kaysa, and Hanna. These girls are seriously like my second family and since meeting them, we have been inseparable. The highlights from when we are together are never ending.
My first highlight is being in the marine ecology lab with my friends Jenna and Julia. The funny thing about our friend group is when we first met, we were all interconnected without realizing it. This made it that much more special when we realized that we all knew each other. The reason why I bring this up is, I knew Jenna before classes started and we both found out that we were in the same lab. During our first lab, I met this girl, Julia, we talked a little bit and then we decided to form a lab group with the three of us. Little did I know, both Jenna and Julia knew the same mutual friends that I also knew. This lab group is extremely fun now because we are all extremely close.
My second highlight is being able to watch my friends Morgan, Madeline, and Jenna practice for hockey. During pre-season the hockey team had open hours at the rink where they could practice skills for an hour. When they would say that they had practice but it was just the three of them, my roommates, Julia and I would go to watch them practice. This was really fun because we got to see them doing something they loved while not being so serious because it wasn’t an official practice. This would result in them shooting the puck at the glass to scare us and dancing to the music we would play.
My third highlight is when my roommates and I would host uno game nights in our room at the beginning of the semester. These game nights are very special to me because it’s how we got to know each other and become so close-nit. We would play uno for hours after dinner and talk and listen to music. This bonded us together really quickly and it was a lot of fun.
My fourth highlight is when my friends and I went to fall fest hosted by UNE. This was a very spur of the moment thing as we didn’t plan on going, however, I am so glad we did. It was Morgan, Madeline, Hanna, Julia, Jenna, and I that went and there, we made custom totebags, and glasses. We also rode the mechanical bull and did a round of the bumper cars. This is a highlight event because it was just really fun and it was nice to spend the evening with my friends.
My fifth highlight is when my roommates and I hosted a movie night in our dorm on Halloween. This was fun because it was the twins’ (Morgan and Madeline) first time watching a horror movie. We blew up a queen sized air mattress and projected the movie Scream on the wall.
My sixth highlight is when we went to the mean girls movie night hosted at the cloud lounge. This was fun because it was our first time having a movie night all together. But what made this a highlight was when we went to leave, they had a lot of leftover food and drinks that they wanted us to take. So we ended up with a LOT of water bottles, and soda and snacks that we had to carry across campus to our dorms. After the movie we hung out in the twins room for a couple hours where we listened to music and talked.
If there was to be a theme to my semester, or perhaps my life- it would be poor time management. Maybe lack of time management would be more accurate. No matter what I’ve tried, nothing seems to work for me, and everything just kind of ends up jumbled up- resulting in not much getting done. Sometimes it feels like my brain is actively working against me to make my life significantly more difficult than it needs to be. Because of this, as well as in spite of it, the semester has been a bit of a rollercoaster. And I hate rollercoasters. Nothing particularly good or bad has happened to me this semester, just a short list of unspectacular things.
10.Presenting in front of class
-My least favourite thing from this semester. I felt nauseous and dizzy the whole time, and sweat through my clothes. I threw up promptly after finishing it. I was always excused from presenting in high school because of my 504 plan, so I was not prepared to just be thrown into it. Although my anxiety is a bit better now, the fact I was able to talk at all during the presentation is a major improvement.
9.No one coming for family weekend
-I have mixed feelings about this. I felt very lonely watching my roommates hang out with their families, and leave campus for the weekend with them. But part of me is glad that no one came, I haven’t really accomplished anything during my time here and it’s embarrassing
8.Feelings of isolation and loneliness
-A common feeling throughout the semester, but one I am used to. It’s difficult to be surrounded by so many people and yet still feel so lonely. I haven’t really made any deep connections on campus and it seems like everyone else has so easily.
7. Experiencing the Saco transportation center
-A fascinating experience. Everything is filthy and the people who hang out there are sketchy and make me wish the train would come faster.
6. Getting poor grades in WRT110 and FYS
-I don’t like having missing work or getting bad grades, but it feels inevitable.
5.Living in a dorm
-Not my favorite thing, stresses me out and makes me feel like I’m in prison. But my roommates are nice.
4.Going home for the first time
-Felt very refreshing. I never wanted to go back to campus and was sad when I had to.
3.Taking the train
-Very fun, I enjoy watching everything go by through the windows, and I like that I can walk around and there’s not a lot of traffic unlike car travel. The train also makes it more accessible for me to go home on weekends.
2.Rocky horror picture show live screening
Fun thing I did with a friend from back home. Really the only fun thing I’ve done all semester. We got to sing and throw props around.
1. Seeing my cat
It made me feel calm and okay for the first time in a long while. I love my cat.
This is not to say that I’ve had a completely horrible experience this semester, just that it’s not been particularly interesting or fun. And although I have not enjoyed it very much- I know that these experiences will be helpful to me in the future in various ways, and help guide me through the rest of my college experience.
10 Highlights: in order from most to least favorite
1. Media Day
2. Haunted Walk
3. Pretty Sunset Practices
4. UNE vs. Lasell University
5. UNE vs. Thomas College
6. Beach visit in Kennebunk
7. Halloween (costume making)
8. Visiting the Dock
9. Bingo (beginning of the semester)
10. Recovery Lifts with the soccer team
Media Day:
Media Day was the first time, in my opinion, that the freshman on the soccer team worked on something together. We all came up with group photo ideas that we wanted to take together which was special for all of us. We were all able to celebrate wearing a college soccer uniform together and it was overall a really fun day.
Haunted Walk:
The Haunted Walk in Aquaboggan was a thrilling experience for me and the group of people I went with. I went with my roommate, Ari, and a group of our friends including Emily, Ethan, and Ben. It was both a scary and funny experience because we were all being chased and screamed at by the actors, but it was funny seeing all of us huddled together the whole time. Not only was it festive because of Halloween, it was a nice reset to go out and do something fun with friends.
Pretty Sunset Practices:
Although this was a common thing throughout the season, it was something that always made me take a step back. Being a first generation college student, and the only collegiate athlete in my family, I am grateful everyday that I was able to continue my academic and athletic career at UNE. Sunset practices on Hazard field always made me realize how lucky I am to be here. UNE is a unique place, and there are many reasons why UNE stood out to me in comparison to other schools. One of those reasons being the sunsets.
UNE vs. Lasell University:
When UNE women’s soccer travelled to Lasell University for a game in September I didn’t think that I would see the field. Long story short I played my first collegiate minutes vs. Lasell, and my parents decided to travel from Jersey to Mass to watch UNE, also not expecting me to play. We had a shutout that game and it was definitely a highlight that my parents got to see my first minutes in person.
UNE vs. Thomas College:
UNE played Thomas College at home for our Senior Day. This game was also a highlight for me because I played almost 90 minutes and it was an incredible day to celebrate the seniors on the team. Having 3 goalkeepers for one position is hard, so I was grateful for any playing time I got this season. I always knew I wanted to play soccer in college and our game vs. Thomas reminded me of all the work I have put in up to this point, and how hard I am going to continue to work during my last few years playing soccer.
Beach Visit in Kennebunk:
More recently, a group of my friends and I decided to go for a drive. This drive was to nowhere specific, we just wanted to explore and see where the roads would take us. We stumbled across a beach in Kennebunk that was completely empty except for us, the snow flurries, and the waves. We spent almost 30 minutes willingly in the freezing cold 30 degree air just to admire the view. We took tons of photos, wrote our names in the sand, and met an incredibly energetic golden retriever running on the beach with it’s owner. We never would have found that beach if we didn’t embrace the randomness of life a little bit.
16 thoughts on “HIGHLIGHT REEL-IN-CLASS WRITING”
I have experienced many different highlights throughout my first semester here at the University of New England. There have been a few lows during this semester but there have been many more highs.
I will explain my highlights from least favorite to most favorite.
1) My least favorite highlight would be saying bye to my parents after moving in. Seeing my Dad get emotional was a big thing for me. I didn’t expect him to cry, but I know those tears were not all sadness but being proud. He has seen me work very hard to reach my goals and going to college here at UNE was a big one. It was reassuring to know that he was proud of me, but it was hard saying bye.
2) My second least favorite highlight would be Statistics class. I have never been a fan of math, and taking statistics has been a challenge, but I have been keeping a good grade of a B. I am proud of myself because I keep studying and going to class even when it is hard.
3) The next highlight would be having my Forensic Eyewitness Interviews class be on zoom at the beginning of the semester. This made it very difficult to know what assignments were due. Now my professor is in person and I love that class even more, having a professor be in person is very important to me. I believe I learn better that way.
4) Getting pizza at a restaurant called Pizza by Alex. The pizza was very good and I enjoyed going with my friends but the pizza ended up burning the roof of my mouth,
which ended up hurting for a few days.
5) In the beginning of the semester I helped my twin sister move into her dorm. This was a hard thing for me to do because I am very much protective over her. She is doing great in college and I know I have nothing to worry about, it was just a shock because we are both growing up. We are not little kids anymore running around in princess dresses and plastic tiaras.
6)My next highlight would be a pumpkin carving night that I did with my Forensic Eyewitness Interviews class. All of us in the class have gotten close and decided to carve pumpkins together. It was a very fun experience, I am glad I went.
7) Paintball was a big highlight of this semester. It was something I have never done before, I am glad I got to go. Joining Outing Club was a very good decision.
8) Also, joining StrongHER was a good choice. Joining this all female workout class has taught me not just new ways to workout but I have also made new friends.
9) On September 29th, I saw the most beautiful sunset. It was an amazing view. I ran to get my disposable camera to take some photos with my friends.
10) My favorite highlight would be the friends I have made here. I have some friends from high school here but meeting new people has been great. I definitely feel like I have found my people here at UNE.
To conclude, I feel very fortunate for all the memories and highlights I have experienced here at UNE. I am so fortunate and feel blessed for the college experience I have had here. I was worried about how college was going to go for me, but I now know I had nothing to worry about. I wouldn’t trade any of the highlights I have had for anything, even if those highlights were not the best.
Throughout my first semester at UNE, I have done various campus activities and participated in classes that have made my time more enjoyable. Though there are many different events, there are ten that stand out more than the rest. Each of these events gave me something that will follow me through my college experience.
On the second day at UNE, most of my dorm hall floor worked together to create a flag to represent us. This was the first time I was able to form new relationships that have continued into the semester.
The first UNE football game was one of the first events I attended. Though football is not my favorite sport to watch, this showed me the culture surrounding the community.
Going to the beach to watch the sunset with my roommate and many other girls on my floor was a great bonding experience for all of us and allowed us to enjoy the last few moments of summer weather.
Weekly trivia in the commons was a fun way to get out of my dorm room and spend time with new and old friends.
Going on a boat ride through the Saco River in Intro to Environmental Issues allowed me to see campus from a different perspective.
Participating in the Meals for Maine food packing activity was the first volunteer activity I did while being here. This event showed me how the UNE community is able to come together to support those in need.
Being a part of the Pre-Pharmacy club allowed me to connect with others in my major and talk about how our experiences are similar.
Having a one-on-one meeting with my pharmacy faculty mentor helped me feel more comfortable with this new experience and created a connection that I will have throughout my time at UNE.
Getting a 94 on my first ever college exam gave me confidence and reminded me why I am here.
Having many guest speakers come into my Careers in Pharmacy class showed the just a few of the options I have, making me even more excited for pharmacy school and my future career.
Overall, these events have each given me something unique from one another. Though I am only finishing up my first semester, I have already learned so much about myself and this University. Reflecting on some of my favorite moments and memories makes me eager to continue my education and keep developing new skills and relationships that could last throughout my life.
College for me has been full of new experiences, lots of good memories, and even quite a few challenges I have had to learn to navigate. Overall looking back at my journals and beyond assignments, I would say a common theme I notice is growth. I feel as though I have grown both academically as a student and also personally as well. There have been so many highlights from this semester alone, but here are ten for now.
One highlight for this semester is my classes in general. Overall the current classes I am taking are all somewhat enjoyable to me for different reasons. While most of them have nothing to do with my major, it has been fun to learn about various different subjects and also meet all the new people I have through my classes.
Another highlight to this semester has been passing all of my classes with relatively good grades. The workload in college, at least for me, has been significantly more than high school and a highlight of this semester has been seeing me keep up with everything I have been getting and not fall behind at all.
Additionally, another highlight from this semester has been joining a club to get more involved. I joined the student nursing association club and it has been fun to get involved and meet new people.
Another highlight from this semester was when I got a 90 on one of my bio exams. Biology has never been one of my strong subjects so seeing my studying pay off for bio and do good has definitely been a highlight.
Another highlight from this semester has honestly been me commuting rather than living on campus. I honestly really don’t mind commuting since I only live 20 minutes away and I feel like it has given me a perfect balance.
Another highlight from this semester has been learning new study methods and what works best for me. Learning new ways to study and what will work best for me has helped so much through this semester and I have noticed such an improvement through doing this.
Additionally, another highlight has been really focusing on my time management so that I have time for all of the things that need to be done. I was pretty stressed in the beginning of the semester with the workload and how I was going to have time to do everything, but as the semester progressed I learned to manage my time.
Another highlight has been getting out of my comfort zone more this semester. I have really challenged myself by getting out of my comfort zone this semester and doing new things I didn’t think I ever really would.
In addition, another highlight I have from this semester is growing more as a person. I feel like this semester I have just really grown as a person and learned new things about myself.
My favorite highlight from this semester has been making new friends. I have loved making new friends this semester and I have made a couple of really close friends here which has really helped UNE and my classes seem more fun.
In conclusion, this semester has had a lot of highlights overall and for just the first semester, I would say it has gone very well and some of the highlights will really help me in future semesters a s well.
Throughout the first semester in the first year seminar, we talked about many different topics. This essay and video are going to cover just 10 of those things.
This paragraph is the highlights and why I chose them:
Now that the highlights are out of the way I am going to talk about each one and why I chose it. For number 10 I never really liked talking about AI in class because I felt like it was getting a little repetitive with what was being said.
Number 9 trying to choose my classes, and knowing that I may not get the order or schedule that I want and created stressed me out a little and still does but I know that if I do what I was told I have a high possibility of getting most of the classes that I want.
Number 8 is going to the different sporting events and events around campus because I get to see new people and maybe meet someone and they are always really fun to go to.
Number 7 is the weekend talks in freshman seminar because I really enjoy talking about things I did or things that others have done and hearing everything that happened.
Number 6: I feel that I had a pretty good amount of independence when I was growing up. My parents just wanted to make sure that I was safe and that was understandable, but being in college they can’t really say anything and I have to do things on my own.
Number 5 is where it is because I was so happy that I was passing all my classes but I felt like there were more important things that happened.
Number 4 where it is because that is something that I am still doing and I feel like with every year it happens no matter how long you’ve been in college and it is something that everyone goes through.
Number 3 it started out kind of hard for me to make some friends but throughout the semester I have found people who are fun to be around and are similar in liking things and similar to me.
Number 2 really sticks with me because in highschool tech crew was never really appreciated for all that we do and it kind of hurt a little but when I signed up they were really happy that a techie signed up.
For my overall absolute favorite highlight it has to be when I was put in a kindergarten classroom. That is one of the grade levels that I want to teach and so it is nice to be in one and see all those specific room functions and the routine that they have, along with taking notes on things the teacher does like behavior corrections or redirections.
In conclusion I feel that it was nice to take time and look back at the year so far, along with maybe some consistency on the activities that were most memorable. I think that personally I have a wide range of things that were most memorable or meaningful because of what they were or the people it was with. I am so happy and grateful to have gotten the experiences that I have and cannot wait to have more.
For my highlight reel I choose to capture the 10 moments so far that stood out to me the most. I have chosen to rank them from least monumental to most monumental.
10. First day of classes
9. Oob arcade
8.acadia national park
7. Soccer games
6. Club field hockey games
5. Neon night Free skate/free skate in general
4.field hockey games
3. First football game
2.hoco/parents weekend
1. Hockey games
Starting at #10: Being able to share this huge moment with all my friends was a great reminder that we are all experiencing this for the first time and being able to share that with them was a great experience. Having their support while dealing with the nerves and excitement was really helpful to feel more at home here. Even though we all have very different class schedules, being able to share the moment before some of us went to class was a lot of fun for all of us. Moving on to #9: Going to the old orchard beach arcade with my friends was so much fun and such a great way to get off campus and still spend time together. We didn’t plan to end the night that way but it was so much fun. #8 is a big one: Going to Arcadia on a whim with my friends was so much fun and such a great way to spend a weekend. We planned our trip a day in advance and just decided to go up to visit. Having the freedom to just leave and go explore something none of us had ever seen was such a fun experience and really allowed us to see new things. We have already started to plan another trip this time with a little more preparation. #7: Going to soccer games was a weekly occurrence for all my friends. Having a friend on the team made everyone want to go to his home games to support him and cheer on our school. It was also a nice way for all of us to come together even without busy schedules. We always had Tuesday night soccer. #6: Field hockey has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember so being able to continue it to some extent in college was a great way to help make my transition easier. When games started up I began to connect with my team better and grow a bond with a lot of them. #5: As soon as me and my friends had time to go to free skate we went. Having the time to do something with my roommates specifically was so much fun and a great way to bond with them.
Josie Eliot
Work done in class on 11/07/25
My first semester in college was pretty hectic, a nonstop rush of activity and a whole new challenge of balancing academics and sports that completely changed me as a person. Over the past few months, I’ve learned a lot about myself and the kind of person I’m becoming. I realized that there’s never enough time in the day to do everything, and that finding balance is essential between getting things done and remembering to take care of yourself along the way. At some point this semester, I began to truly grasp what independence means. I’ve always thought of myself as independent, but college has shown me that true independence comes with new responsibilities and a deeper sense of self-reliance. While it’s been challenging and, at times, anxiety-inducing, this experience has also led me to new friendships, countless opportunities, and a genuine sense of belonging here.
I haven’t had the chance to attend a lot of campus events but the ones I did attend I had a really good time and would definitely attend them in the near future. Starting at number ten in my highlight reel I said attending a field hockey game one of my friends from my dorm had her first club field hockey game, and I got to go support her! They didn’t win, but they played really well, and it was so fun to watch and learn more about the sport. Something cool I found out is that field hockey has unlimited substitutions, which I thought was wild coming from a sport who has limited substitutions!
Coming in at number nine, I finally got the chance to take a break after my second round of exams and go on a nature walk in Biddeford Pool with some friends. It was a much-needed escape, I had been studying nonstop and hardly spending any time outside. Getting off campus, breathing in the fresh sea air, and wandering around looking at houses was a well-deserved and refreshing break.
Taking the eighth spot is attending Trivia night way back in the beginning of the semester with some friends.
I’ve been at UNE for about two and a half months, and a lot of stuff has happened in that time. I have been tasked with creating a highlight reel of my favorite moments at UNE, which I have quite a few. I can define my highlights as times where I had a lot of fun, times where I was intrigued, and times of overcoming adversity.
Chemistry class is number 10 on my list. Chemistry class isn’t fun per se but it is very engaging to me. Chemistry is one of my favorite subjects, I love learning how elements operate to form molecules, how electrons work, molecule bonds, stoichiometry, all of it.
Going out to dinner with my aunt is number 9 on my list. I don’t leave campus much, so when I do it’s a big event for me. My aunt from Massachusetts stopped by to take me to dinner, which was really fun. I got some alright chicken tenders there, which was still great as they serve chicken tenders once a month at the dining hall.
VHS Party is number 8 on my list. VHS party was a comedy show where two guys showed off goofy VHS tapes from the 80s and 90s. This was one of the first days I was at college and I was feeling the emotions, so having this as a distraction from all of that was very nice.
That time when my dad brought me McDonalds is number 7 on my list. My dad was going to work one day and asked me if I wanted some McDonalds while he was passing by (my dad’s a pilot so he has a long commute). I got to see my dad for the second time since I left for college, and I got a holy grail of McNuggets.
I haven’t finished this so whoopsie! I’ll finish this later.
Throughout my first semester in college I have grown a lot as a student, athlete, and person. I have done many new things and met many new people. I’m lucky enough to have built great friendships with my roommates which have made this first part of my college experience much easier and fun. I hope to experience many more things and make many more memories with new or old friends here at college.
I unfortunately had to put my dog down this past month, which was very hard for me due to the fact that I have had her since I was little. But with this came a great surprise. I got a new puppy. She’s a bernese mountain dog, a breed I have always wanted. It was a great feeling after such a tough loss.
My roommates and I have gotten a lot closer throughout the semester. We drove down to Massachusetts a couple weekends ago to see one of my roommate’s family and also took a trip to six flags, which was very fun. I haven’t been to Six Flags in a long time and it was great to go back with my friends and see all of the new rides and share lots of laughs (and screams).
I recently tried water aerobics for the first time with a few of my teammates for an AES project. This was actually much more fun and harder than I expected it to be. It definitely took me stepping outside of my comfort zone and getting in a pool with a bunch of grandmas to do dances and exercise, but overall I had a good time doing it.
A couple weeks ago I scored my first college touchdown, which was very exciting. It felt so much different than high school with the crowd and the pressure. My teammates were ecstatic which made me feel great afterwards.
Before the weather had gotten cold I taught my roommates how to fish. Surprisingly they have never tried it beforehand, but they found it to be fun especially when we hooked onto a big striper. It was great to do something that I had done many times before with old friends, but this time with new ones.
On the topic of trying new things, I got my roommate to go ice skating for the first time at the rink over at the forum. This was another fun activity that I kind of took over the role of the teacher in.
Recently we had our homecoming game, which we won. I got a great surprise after the game because my cousins came down to watch and it was great seeing them again because I haven’t since summer. I was lucky enough to hangout at the tailgate with my family afterwards and catch up (and eat some awesome food).
During my environmental science class we took a boat ride up the Saco river, which was pretty fun because I got to drive the boat. I fish in the Saco river during the summer so it was great to be back on the water. It was a breath of fresh air that I definitely needed.
In my AES class I got the opportunity to test my VO2 max. I had to run on the treadmill for this lab, which was exhausting. But overall, it was a great experience because I have always wanted to do it.
Lastly, I recently started working out at the fitness center with a few of my friends. This was a good escape for me from my typical lifts over at the forum with the team. It felt good being able to do my own thing and get back to my roots.
Overall, I have experienced many new things throughout my first semester at college. I hope to continue making memories with the people I care about and doing the things I enjoy doing.
I think that if there’s any clear thing I’ve learned about entering adulthood, it’s that you can’t experience true growth without real change. For me, going to college was certainly a big change. If you had asked me almost 3 months ago about how my first semester of college is going, I would have said I hated every second of it. But now, if you had asked me that same question, I would tell you that I still hate it, sometimes, but you’ll also hear the opposite; that I have learned to love it. So, what changed? College didn’t change. The campus still holds all of the same classes, people, and places as before. But I did, and here are ten reasons why.
10) Learning to get to my classes. Maybe not many people would consider this a highlight, but I do. Going to college always seemed intimidating to me, but after learning where everything was, and my place in it, everything, almost immediately, felt more manageable.
9) *NOT DONE YET
8)
7)
6) Tuesday Trivia Nights- Connection was always my biggest struggle when first arriving at college. It was’t because I couldn’t; I love meeting and talking with people. But it was because I didn’t really know how to. One night, when going to the pub to get a lemonade, I saw people hosting a trivia night. I had nothing to do so I went over, looked around, and three girls at a table invited me to join them. I said yes, and we ended up having a really great time!
5) Chemistry is a class that I haven’t really made an opinion on yet. It’s my favorite class, but it’s also the reason why I am in the library most times during the day.
The top ten most important moments of this semester for me are as follows, yet may not be in order:
Getting to the top of the wall at evo and looking down, while feeling somewhat comfortable compared to the first time is one because I overcame raw fear to get to the top of the wall.
Sitting in my hammock in the woods in a certain undisclosed location on the phone with my dad, because that was one of the first times I really wanted to do something off the mainstream of things so I just when and did it.
I went to the coffee shop in Biddeford by myself to see a dune grass presentation, because I got out into the community and saw UNE’s impact.
Going to Bryant pond with the GLC, green living community, because that was something I was worried about doing and it ended up changing my perspective drastically on what I wanted to do with my life, and how I should lead it, while I also got to learn about things I could do in the future. It also let me get to know my professors better, as well as my fellow classmates in the GLC.
Being stressed out in chemistry lab, because I will learn how to deal with it better.
Being awoken in at 12:30 to the fire alarm going off, helped teach me to be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Going to the marine science center to report a dead porpoise on the beach, because when I got there I talked with the professors and other students and make connections, as well as a potential research opportunity, which show me I just have to get involved with things I am interested in.
Kalei’s family being in a horrible place taught me how to give long-term support to people I love mentally on my part.
Riding along with a Maine state forest ranger, because it taught me more about what it was like being in the field on that type of job. That in turn will help me in the future when I must choose a job after college. It may open internship opportunities as well.
Being so busy and having it be my actual dissection on if I want to do what I am doing. This has been a challenge this year because the extreme switch to independence and making my day mine, for the most part, has started to help teach me what I should include in my day, or what I should prioritize. This includes finding a balance between social life, academics, and recreational activities.
These things were the first things that came to my mind when I thought of when I thought of important things that I learned, or that happened to me. The list could easily go on, yet I feel this encompasses the major points of my experiences. Many of these can go in the same category and some represent a category by themselves.
My first college semester has been filled with varying moments of varying emotions. I feel like that is what most college kids experience; college is a time of uncertainty, of change and growth and facing the unknown. It’s hard being away from the routine you’ve established at home, regardless of whether or not that routine was good. That has been some of my experience here so far. I’ve had really good moments and really bad moments, and I believe that it is important to remember that growth and change isn’t always polished and perfect. Sometimes it’s messy and chaotic and you don’t know heads or tails, but everything still works out in the end.
My least favorite moment in college was Kevin dying. Kevin is my aunt’s (not actually blood related) cousin. They were both very close growing up, and have maintained a good relationship throughout their adult years. He was so kind and generous with everyone he met, including me. When we first moved up here I felt alone. Him and his family helped me feel less alone. He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS, about six months ago. He fought as best he could, but he died about a week ago. Family events won’t be the same without him.
Talking with my girlfriend/roommate is second on my list. It was really hard and difficult, and I was an anxious wreck leading up to our conversation, but in the end, everything turned out well. She and I discussed changes to make, and how we could better support each other and I never loved her more than in that moment of mutual growth.
I have a condition called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It’s essentially PMS on steroids and dialed up to eleven. It’s something I’ve always struggled with, but ever since coming to college, it’s been even harder attempting to deal with it. In early October, I had the worst episode I’ve had in a while; I was sobbing uncontrollably for well over an hour, and couldn’t get myself to stop. However, I did end up seeking out a support group for PMDD, and it’s helped me so much in accepting who I am and how this disorder affects me.
I have always been a perfectionist. I can’t help it. I need to be good at everything, or even be the best at it, and if I’m not, I feel a little worthless. Getting anything below an 85 in high school for me was outrageous. I would be upset if I did, and think myself stupid on the subject. Since coming to college, I’ve had to reevaluate. I got a 73 on my first big exam in chemistry, and while I did initially freak out, I remembered that exams have no say on my worth as a person, nor does it have anything to do with how much I enjoy a subject. Tough learning moment for me, but incredibly necessary.
I love cooking for people. It’s my way of expressing both myself and my love for the person I’m cooking for. I really like the people on my floor (barring two people). I think they’re all good people, and I like being around them. I made apple pie and apple crisp in late September, and considering I couldn’t eat all of it myself, I had everyone who wanted some come in and eat. It was so nice seeing people I like enjoy my cooking, and I felt so happy.
I love reading. I would say that it’s probably my top hobby/interest. I also love bookmarks. Looking at the pretty designs and using them for my favorite books brings me joy. Women in STEM had an event where we discussed the upcoming semester and made pretty STEM themed bookmarks. I thought it was really nice to be able to talk to people with the same interests as me and make something I enjoyed.
Movie night in the dorms has become a favorite event of mine.
List of moments: (Least to most favorite)
Kevin dying
Talking with Katelyn
PMDD induced breakdown in early October
Getting a 73 on my chem exam
Cooking for the dorm (apple pie and apple crisp)
Making bookmarks for WISTEM
Movie night watching Moana Two
Discussing infectious disease in pharmacy class
Talking about the social stigma around disease in Plagues and Populations
Watching Buffy with my friend and feeling like I finally have a friend group that likes me
I still need to finish this!
Breakfast, beach, & Old Port
Royel Otis concert
Big Thief concert
National Park Trust Hike
Dance of the Damned
Surprising my family
Fall Fest
Bingo
Highlight list:
Breakfast, Beach, & Old Port
While it may be surprising that I pick this first, especially over a concert, I’ve found that my favorite memory thus far has been one of peace. There was one weekend where I had no homework, nothing to do, and lots of time to do it. It was a warm weekend, projected highs in the 80s. My roommate and I were brainstorming on what we should do with our time. We came up with many things: going out to breakfast (a delicacy in college), going to Ferry Beach, or going to Portland. While trying to decide on which to do, we remembered that we had a whole, available day ahead of us. We decided to do it all. First, breakfast of course. We went to an overpriced cafe in downtown Saco, amazing. Then, we went to Ferry Beach. Someone was playing bagpipes, surprising yet serene. I have a vivid memory of lying on the beach with the sun warming my skin, a perfect temperature. Good music was playing. I was happy. After that, we decided to drive to Portland, our destination: the Old Port. We walked around downtown, smoothies in hand and good conversation in the air. Peace, joy, and warmth. When I’m in the library with five assignments due and three exams coming up, I think about this day and smile.
Royel Otis Concert
A week prior, I was trying to find good music to listen to while I studied. Struggling to find exactly what I was looking for, I let Spotify choose what I was listening to. I put it on shuffle, and rediscovered one of my favorite songs from years ago. Sharing this find with my roommate, she said, “Phoebe, I love this song!”, and we started listening to their discography. All of a sudden, something pops up. An advertisement for their upcoming concert, a week out, in Boston. Tickets chosen, in cart, purchased. On the day of, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I left class early (sorry Precalc Professor), and we were off to Boston. My roommate drove, I played music. I waved at everyone we passed on the road, in turn, making some new friends! One person wrote on a notebook while he drove, then held it up to the window. We had a whole conversation like that. His name was Eli. The concert was amazing. We had seats, yet we didn’t sit once. We danced the whole time with the girls next to us. When we left the concert, the Boston air was cool and light, exactly what we needed after dancing for hours.
Big Thief Concert
Big Thief, a band I have adored for years. It was June when I got a notification that they were going on tour this fall. Without knowing who I was going with, I bought two tickets. When the concert was two weeks out, I asked my roommate (having heard her play their music a few times) if she wanted to go with me. She said absolutely she did. It was on a Monday night, and I had an 8am the next morning. But, it was my favorite band and I couldn’t pass that up. This concert was at the State Theater in Portland. Which, to our surprise, is a stunning venue. We had general admission tickets, so we stood (and danced) the whole time. It was a lovely night filled with lovely music. We got home much later than expected, but the memories were worth the dreary eyes the next morning.
National Park Trust Hie
On this weekend, I had no plans. I got a text asking if I wanted to go on a hike. Yes! It was the perfect time of the season, the leaves turning beautifully. It was a dozen young women on a hike, what could be better!? The air was perfect. I made many new friends with similar interests, and had a wonderful time!
Dance of the Damned
Saturday of Halloween Weekend, my roommate and I went to the Dance of the Damned, a halloween themed dance on a boat. We had so much fun! The boat drove around Casco Bay. The DJ played amazing music, I rediscovered my love for dancing, and met new friends.
Surprising my Family
Just a few days ago, my mom sent me a text, a picture of my rabbit. Missing my rabbit, and my family, I made a quick decision to go home after class. However, I wasn’t going to tell anyone.
In this assignment we were asked to rate events in college from worst to best. This immediately triggered a flow of memories of the best and worst times. It is really easy to find the good and bad but harder to really find those meaningful moments in the middle that really made the bulk of my time.
My worst experience was the easiest thing. They found a tumor during my Nana’s routine mammogram. My nana is my main person I go to in life for everything. Breast cancer is some of the most aggressive forms of cancer we can get. My family also chose not to tell me for almost a month until they got more answers. She ended up being fine and it is gone now after a surgery but that was the scariest time of my whole life.
My second worst experience was when my roommate called B flooded my dresser with a water jug and did not tell me. The jug was on top of my dresser and while pouring some out she spilled enough water to make a puddle at the bottom of my wardrobe. This was an accident, but she never told me, my other roommate called A told me after she also had the same problem. B never even acknowledged that it happened and never helped with the clean up.
I had to drop my Pre-calculus class due to a failing grade at midterms. I dropped it so it did not impact my financial aid, but I am still going to lectures. I am retaking the class in spring and calculus is now pushed to over the summer.
We are currently very understaffed at the dining hall which is making shifts more stressful and harder to manage. We have had 4-5 people walk out on us over the course of a month. This lack of staff meansI am now alone on Wednesdays, the busiest day.
I am going to pilates every Thursday when I am not overloaded with homework. It is a lot of fun and a nice challenge but it makes me miss dance so much more than I normally would.
My friends and I did a lot of game nights the first month to get to know each other more. It was so much fun and I now have a close group of friends I really like.
Marine Biology lab is my favorite class by far. I love the topic and the hands-on work we do plus I have the best lab table ever.
Family visiting is a nice little break from the stress. I take the chance to go out and stock up on the things I need. I have really missed my parents and I love seeing them.
I have done a few off campus things like a mini vacation in Old Orchard and a car show with my little cousins. Seeing them made the whole month, they really are my world.
I have been seeing gorgeous stars, comets, and rainbows since I have gotten here. These things are a sign from my family members who have passed and the universe itself telling me that I have made the right choice and I will be ok.
Throughout the course of my first semester of college, I have made so many core memories. I was fortunate enough to find the best group of girls I’ve ever met early on in the semester. Their names are Morgan, Madeline, Jenna, Julia, Kaysa, and Hanna. These girls are seriously like my second family and since meeting them, we have been inseparable. The highlights from when we are together are never ending.
My first highlight is being in the marine ecology lab with my friends Jenna and Julia. The funny thing about our friend group is when we first met, we were all interconnected without realizing it. This made it that much more special when we realized that we all knew each other. The reason why I bring this up is, I knew Jenna before classes started and we both found out that we were in the same lab. During our first lab, I met this girl, Julia, we talked a little bit and then we decided to form a lab group with the three of us. Little did I know, both Jenna and Julia knew the same mutual friends that I also knew. This lab group is extremely fun now because we are all extremely close.
My second highlight is being able to watch my friends Morgan, Madeline, and Jenna practice for hockey. During pre-season the hockey team had open hours at the rink where they could practice skills for an hour. When they would say that they had practice but it was just the three of them, my roommates, Julia and I would go to watch them practice. This was really fun because we got to see them doing something they loved while not being so serious because it wasn’t an official practice. This would result in them shooting the puck at the glass to scare us and dancing to the music we would play.
My third highlight is when my roommates and I would host uno game nights in our room at the beginning of the semester. These game nights are very special to me because it’s how we got to know each other and become so close-nit. We would play uno for hours after dinner and talk and listen to music. This bonded us together really quickly and it was a lot of fun.
My fourth highlight is when my friends and I went to fall fest hosted by UNE. This was a very spur of the moment thing as we didn’t plan on going, however, I am so glad we did. It was Morgan, Madeline, Hanna, Julia, Jenna, and I that went and there, we made custom totebags, and glasses. We also rode the mechanical bull and did a round of the bumper cars. This is a highlight event because it was just really fun and it was nice to spend the evening with my friends.
My fifth highlight is when my roommates and I hosted a movie night in our dorm on Halloween. This was fun because it was the twins’ (Morgan and Madeline) first time watching a horror movie. We blew up a queen sized air mattress and projected the movie Scream on the wall.
My sixth highlight is when we went to the mean girls movie night hosted at the cloud lounge. This was fun because it was our first time having a movie night all together. But what made this a highlight was when we went to leave, they had a lot of leftover food and drinks that they wanted us to take. So we ended up with a LOT of water bottles, and soda and snacks that we had to carry across campus to our dorms. After the movie we hung out in the twins room for a couple hours where we listened to music and talked.
If there was to be a theme to my semester, or perhaps my life- it would be poor time management. Maybe lack of time management would be more accurate. No matter what I’ve tried, nothing seems to work for me, and everything just kind of ends up jumbled up- resulting in not much getting done. Sometimes it feels like my brain is actively working against me to make my life significantly more difficult than it needs to be. Because of this, as well as in spite of it, the semester has been a bit of a rollercoaster. And I hate rollercoasters. Nothing particularly good or bad has happened to me this semester, just a short list of unspectacular things.
10.Presenting in front of class
-My least favourite thing from this semester. I felt nauseous and dizzy the whole time, and sweat through my clothes. I threw up promptly after finishing it. I was always excused from presenting in high school because of my 504 plan, so I was not prepared to just be thrown into it. Although my anxiety is a bit better now, the fact I was able to talk at all during the presentation is a major improvement.
9.No one coming for family weekend
-I have mixed feelings about this. I felt very lonely watching my roommates hang out with their families, and leave campus for the weekend with them. But part of me is glad that no one came, I haven’t really accomplished anything during my time here and it’s embarrassing
8.Feelings of isolation and loneliness
-A common feeling throughout the semester, but one I am used to. It’s difficult to be surrounded by so many people and yet still feel so lonely. I haven’t really made any deep connections on campus and it seems like everyone else has so easily.
7. Experiencing the Saco transportation center
-A fascinating experience. Everything is filthy and the people who hang out there are sketchy and make me wish the train would come faster.
6. Getting poor grades in WRT110 and FYS
-I don’t like having missing work or getting bad grades, but it feels inevitable.
5.Living in a dorm
-Not my favorite thing, stresses me out and makes me feel like I’m in prison. But my roommates are nice.
4.Going home for the first time
-Felt very refreshing. I never wanted to go back to campus and was sad when I had to.
3.Taking the train
-Very fun, I enjoy watching everything go by through the windows, and I like that I can walk around and there’s not a lot of traffic unlike car travel. The train also makes it more accessible for me to go home on weekends.
2.Rocky horror picture show live screening
Fun thing I did with a friend from back home. Really the only fun thing I’ve done all semester. We got to sing and throw props around.
1. Seeing my cat
It made me feel calm and okay for the first time in a long while. I love my cat.
This is not to say that I’ve had a completely horrible experience this semester, just that it’s not been particularly interesting or fun. And although I have not enjoyed it very much- I know that these experiences will be helpful to me in the future in various ways, and help guide me through the rest of my college experience.
10 Highlights: in order from most to least favorite
1. Media Day
2. Haunted Walk
3. Pretty Sunset Practices
4. UNE vs. Lasell University
5. UNE vs. Thomas College
6. Beach visit in Kennebunk
7. Halloween (costume making)
8. Visiting the Dock
9. Bingo (beginning of the semester)
10. Recovery Lifts with the soccer team
Media Day:
Media Day was the first time, in my opinion, that the freshman on the soccer team worked on something together. We all came up with group photo ideas that we wanted to take together which was special for all of us. We were all able to celebrate wearing a college soccer uniform together and it was overall a really fun day.
Haunted Walk:
The Haunted Walk in Aquaboggan was a thrilling experience for me and the group of people I went with. I went with my roommate, Ari, and a group of our friends including Emily, Ethan, and Ben. It was both a scary and funny experience because we were all being chased and screamed at by the actors, but it was funny seeing all of us huddled together the whole time. Not only was it festive because of Halloween, it was a nice reset to go out and do something fun with friends.
Pretty Sunset Practices:
Although this was a common thing throughout the season, it was something that always made me take a step back. Being a first generation college student, and the only collegiate athlete in my family, I am grateful everyday that I was able to continue my academic and athletic career at UNE. Sunset practices on Hazard field always made me realize how lucky I am to be here. UNE is a unique place, and there are many reasons why UNE stood out to me in comparison to other schools. One of those reasons being the sunsets.
UNE vs. Lasell University:
When UNE women’s soccer travelled to Lasell University for a game in September I didn’t think that I would see the field. Long story short I played my first collegiate minutes vs. Lasell, and my parents decided to travel from Jersey to Mass to watch UNE, also not expecting me to play. We had a shutout that game and it was definitely a highlight that my parents got to see my first minutes in person.
UNE vs. Thomas College:
UNE played Thomas College at home for our Senior Day. This game was also a highlight for me because I played almost 90 minutes and it was an incredible day to celebrate the seniors on the team. Having 3 goalkeepers for one position is hard, so I was grateful for any playing time I got this season. I always knew I wanted to play soccer in college and our game vs. Thomas reminded me of all the work I have put in up to this point, and how hard I am going to continue to work during my last few years playing soccer.
Beach Visit in Kennebunk:
More recently, a group of my friends and I decided to go for a drive. This drive was to nowhere specific, we just wanted to explore and see where the roads would take us. We stumbled across a beach in Kennebunk that was completely empty except for us, the snow flurries, and the waves. We spent almost 30 minutes willingly in the freezing cold 30 degree air just to admire the view. We took tons of photos, wrote our names in the sand, and met an incredibly energetic golden retriever running on the beach with it’s owner. We never would have found that beach if we didn’t embrace the randomness of life a little bit.