For many first-generation students, choosing what college to go to can be a daunting task. Among many worries, most are worried about whether they and their families can afford college, how far they will be from home and whether the programs offered are the right choice for them. For me, I was worried about choosing the right school.
Navigating college during COVID-19
When I first applied to IU Indianapolis, I chose it because it was located in a city filled with opportunities. I initially wanted to be a nurse, so having a campus surrounded by hospitals nearby was the perfect place for me. I thought that when I started my freshman year, I would be able to get a head start on my nursing career by creating connections with my fellow classmates, professors and future employers. Unfortunately, my freshman year did not go as I had imagined it would because I was one of many students affected by COVID-19.
Freshman year at IU Indianapolis was a hard time for me because I had chosen to move two hours away from home and live on campus. So not only was I worried about whether I chose the right school to go to, but I was also worried about getting sick when I could have stayed home where it was safer.
For students who wanted to live on campus and continue to go to class in person, IU Indianapolis had set a plan in place where all campus-wide events would be canceled or done remotely, weekly mandatory COVID testing and wearing masks was a requirement. The plan brought some hope for us students who desperately wanted school to feel like it used to be.
Getting involved on campus
Although I was grateful for the plan that IU Indianapolis had in place, not having opportunities to go to campus events left a significant impact on how the rest of my freshman year went because I rarely left my dorm room, I struggled to create friendships and I was not feeling passionate about my studies. Those three things made me question if IU Indianapolis really was the right choice for me. As someone who doesn’t give up easily, I wasn’t going to let one challenging year define the rest of my college experience.
With that mindset in mind, I was determined to be more involved on campus during my sophomore year to hopefully help me answer the question of whether IUI was the right choice. During the summer before sophomore year, I was offered an on-campus job as a finite tutor at the Mathematics Assistance Center (MAC), accepted into the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health for their Health Services Management (HSM) program and became the 2021–22 treasurer for the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA).
Finding my passion
As a senior graduating in May 2024, I can confidently say that sophomore year was a turning point in my college career. After switching my major, I found that the courses and content I was learning brought back the passion in me that I lost during my time as a pre-nursing student.
I have always had a passion to help people, but switching my major helped me understand that my passion for helping lies in wanting to help minorities just like me navigate the confusing and complicated world of healthcare. I want to improve minority health outcomes by helping them navigate their insurance, reduce healthcare costs and find the best quality care that they need.
Besides switching my major, working at the MAC helped me find a place where I felt comfortable learning, growing and building skills that I could use in my future career. Being a tutor, and now a manager, at the MAC was and is still my first official job that I am forever grateful for. I have learned how to effectively communicate, how to teach, how to manage my time and how to deal with conflicts.
The biggest factor that makes the MAC such a great place to have your first job or a job in general, is the team. Everyone at the MAC understands that we are people first, students second and employees third. The MAC welcomes everyone and is a judgment-free zone that is a great place to learn and work at.
Creating friendships
Lastly, being part of a student organization on campus helped me find another family away from home. During freshman year, I really struggled with finding a core group of friends that I could relate to, share memories with and grow with. But being part of VSA helped me find what I was looking for. I can confidently say that I have found a good group of friends that I will continue to stay in touch with even after graduation.
Besides finding my second family, I was also able to grow my leadership skills. I went from being treasurer my sophomore year to being president for my junior and senior years. I learned time management, event coordination, fundraising, promotion, etc.
I learned so many skills that I would have never gotten the opportunity to learn if I hadn’t been in a leadership position for the past three years of my college career. Being in a leadership position can be extremely hard, but so rewarding in the end.
Reflecting on my time at IU Indianapolis
Overall, my college experience has been a roller coaster ride, but I will forever be grateful for my freshman year because it gave me the motivation to change the direction of my college experience. Most importantly, it helped me figure out that IU Indianapolis has always been the place I was meant to be in and that I will forever be a Jaguar.
To end, I encourage those of you who may be struggling to find your place to explore other majors/minors that you have been thinking about, apply for an on-campus job and reach out to student organizations to find out how you can get involved.
