Hi readers,
I’m officially done with freshman year and want to reflect on my experiences at Amherst College thus far. I’m grateful for so much at Amherst, and yet there are some things I wish I had done differently!
- I am most proud of the connections I made at Amherst College. The friends I met during orientation week morphed into my closest friends, study buddies, and confidants. They motivate me to be my best self, complement my personality, and always have my back. There are so many opportunities to connect with others at Amherst College. Even though it is a small school, I am confident that when you become a student, you will find people who light up your day, match your energy, and make you feel seen.
- I wish I had learned more about volunteering opportunities in Amherst sooner. I started volunteering at a local soup kitchen, “Not Bread Alone,” towards the end of my first year. I found purpose in preparing dishes, serving food to Amherst residents, and bonding with the other volunteers. I recommend exploring volunteer opportunities at Amherst early on, so you, too, can create meaningful experiences.
- I am grateful for all the opportunities Amherst has provided. I took advantage of free ski lessons, attended research talks from outside professors, attended tons of free food and clothing events, networked with alums for career advice, etc. The amount of resources and events Amherst offers can sometimes be overwhelming. Still, upcoming events are brilliantly outlined in “The Daily Mammoth”, a daily newspaper that gets emailed to students at 8:00 AM. I would also spend some time over the summer exploring the Amherst College website to see what other opportunities are available.
- One of my fondest memories at Amherst was spending my January learning to become an EMT. I mentioned how remarkable this opportunity was in a previous blog. Now that I am an on-campus EMT, I am better at thinking under pressure, can successfully take vitals, and feel more empathy towards my peers. With my EMT certification, I acquired a summer job near my hometown as an EMT, where I will continue to refine my patient care skills and learn how to better respond to emergencies! If you are interested in caring for others, please apply for the EMT course at Amherst College once you are a student. It opened my eyes to a new community of students who enjoy caring for others just as much as I do.
- I admit that I struggled academically at Amherst College. My high school self would be shocked that I received B’s in courses (which are not inherently bad, but I had high standards before coming to Amherst). It definitely helped to attend office hours, TA hours, and get one-on-one tutoring at the Q-Center for specific subjects. However, I will work next year to find study methods that work better for me and improve my test-taking strategies. My advice for incoming students is to have grace and compassion towards yourself. Amherst College is not an easy school by any means, and students enter with different levels of education. My public school education differed significantly from other schools offering advanced courses like organic chemistry. With time, however, Amherst will even out the gaps in education levels and teach students to truly think critically. So, don’t be alarmed if your grades are lower than in high school! It will take time to adjust to a new school; remember to use the learning resources Amherst offers and be patient with yourself.
Thanks for reading my last blog of the semester 🙂 As always, please email me with any questions at ipatel28@amherst.edu.