Unfiltered: Fall 2019

What’s it like to be a college student? We asked five students from the Class of 2023 five simple questions—and we’re going to ask them again (and again), each semester until they graduate. Here’s what they’re thinking this fall:

 

Sivali Bhandary
Kathmandu, Nepal

What class are you most excited about right now?

My “Introduction to Public Health” class! We will have a Neglected Tropical Diseases forum in class next week and I’m super excited for that.

What’s one recent triumph (large or small!)?

Grabbing breakfast before my 8 a.m. classes and still making it to class on time. 

What have you learned lately?

I’ve been learning the importance of a good night’s rest. I’m miserable on the days I don’t get my eight hours. 

What do you wish you would’ve known six months ago?

That I’ll be fine. I was worried before coming here that being away from home and living by myself would kill me since I’ve never done it before. Despite it all, I’m managing quite well and am definitely learning so much about myself. 

What’s one thing you want to do in the next six months?

I want to keep myself as active as possible by indulging in recreational activities and organizations, hanging out with friends, learning new things, volunteering, and exploring the Twin Cities. 

 

Ross Relic
Crystal Lake, Ill.

What class are you most excited about right now?

I’m by far most excited by “Modern Physics” right now. I really love learning about how our reality works and looking at physics from a new lens with relativity in mind, instead of Newton’s equations, is extremely eye-opening and it fuels my passion when I feel like I’ve reached a new depth of understanding of a topic.

What’s one recent triumph (large or small!)?

I recently got an A on my first test and I’ve been staying on top of my homework. Yay!

What have you learned lately?

I’ve learned that, surprisingly, I’m a lot more of a neat freak about my dorm room than I thought I would be before I came to college.

What do you wish you would’ve known six months ago?

I wish I knew that I didn’t have to worry about the depth of my friendships in college. People can make extremely strong, deep friendships surprisingly quickly, and I wish I knew that I wasn’t an exception.

What’s one thing you want to do in the next six months?

I hope that I get myself on healthy sleep and exercise schedules or at least take a step in the right direction with those because right now I really need to work on that.

 

Hannah Scharrer
Tacoma, Wash.

What class are you most excited about right now?

I’m loving my “Intro to Statistics” course! I knew that I liked statistics, but as someone who leans toward the humanities, I never thought stats would become my favorite class. The real life applications of the content is fascinating and the professor is the best.

What’s one recent triumph (large or small!)?

I’m on the way to becoming a Macalester tour guide, and I couldn’t be more excited! It’s the perfect job for anyone who loves to talk as much as I do.

What have you learned lately?

I’ve learned the importance of taking brain breaks from my homework. Taking a little pause to go on a run or see an on-campus speaker puts me in a better headspace to do my work. I’ve been able to enjoy the amazing fall in St. Paul on my runs and have gone to some really interesting talks, so those breaks are truly invaluable. 

What do you wish you would’ve known six months ago?

I was really nervous about how the transition to college would go, and I spent a lot of energy worrying about that, but for me, the transition was super smooth, so I wish I had known that six months ago. It was certainly a change, but there was no need to worry about not finding friends or fitting in. 

What’s one thing you want to do in the next six months?

I want to enjoy the winter here! I’ve never lived anywhere where it snows a lot, so I’m actually really excited for winter. I’d like to go ice skating and try out cross-country skiing, as well as stay cozy inside and drink lots of hot chocolate.

 

Pilar Grover
Chicago

What class are you most excited about right now?

Dinosaurs! 

What’s one recent triumph (large or small!)?

I finally unpacked all of my things and decorated my dorm room. I even hung up curtains with a tension rod. 

What have you learned lately?

I’m learning how to do a lot of things on my own that my parents normally help me with, like staying on top of my laundry, ordering prescriptions, and managing money. 

What do you wish you would’ve known six months ago?

I wish that I would’ve known to spend more time with my friends, family, and pets before I left. I miss them!

What’s one thing you want to do in the next six months?

At the top of my bucket list right now is going to the state fair. I love carnival rides and I want to try all the different foods. 

 

Carter Rutherford
Alexandria, Va., and Santiago, Chile

What class are you most excited about right now?

I am most excited about my first-year course: “Transnational Perspectives on Gender, Race, and Class.”

What’s one recent triumph (large or small!)?

Being chosen as First-Year Rep for Program Board

What have you learned lately?

I recently learned how to create lesson plans and teach an English Language Learner class geared toward adults.

What do you wish you would’ve known six months ago?

I wish I had known how to navigate the complex world of health insurance in the United States.

What’s one thing you want to do in the next six months?

In the next six months, I want to start taking Japanese classes.