The New You

Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I want to see the world. I want to be able to meet a million people at all corners of the earth and learn their stories. I want to learn to speak different languages and I want to experience other people’s culture. I guess that why I chose to be a Communications and Spanish major. I don’t know just yet what I’ll be doing to achieve my goal of seeing the world, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out. I also am the only girl in my family, growing up with 3 brothers. I got my first pet when I was 18 and his name is Chief and now I love cats, who knew. I love people, I love talking, and I love sharing my voice. It’s strange to think about the person I am now in comparison to the person I was all throughout high school. On the surface we look the same, and we sound the same but that’s about where the similarities stop as they are only skin deep.

At this point in time, I can say that I am truly myself at all times. I don’t hide certain characteristics or personality traits from people which is something I did all throughout my years in school. I was intimidated by people I shouldn’t have been intimidated by, I felt scared I’d be judged and looked out as an outcast if I shared my true opinion on certain things. I tried to fit the mold of high school, I wanted to be well liked and admired but I didn’t have the confidence to draw attention to myself. I drifted in the back round of my high school’s social scene with my group of friends, who were the only people who really knew me for me. I don’t know why I was like this and looking back I want to kick myself for being so preoccupied with other people’s opinions. I could’ve made the most of high school if I had gotten over my fears and opened myself up but instead I look back on high school, as well as many of the people I interacted with daily, with resent. And now I resent my self for resenting it, and the circle continues. When I decided to go away for college I saw an opportunity to reinvent myself. I was starting this new chapter in my life and it was the perfect chance to finally be able to be myself. The first thing that changed was my name. No, I did not actually change my name but I decided to start introducing myself as Miss, something only my close friends called, instead of Melissa. As Miss I was confident, I feel like I could approach anybody, I felt interesting, and I especially felt like myself. With the exception of the 5 other kids who went to my high school, nobody knew who I was. I didn’t have to be tied down by who I was in high school. I was in this new place, with thousands of new people, and I could be anybody I wanted to be.

That’s one of the best things I’ve learned about being in college. There are so many people around you and everyone has their own world. Nobody is judgmental of your likes, dislikes, opinions, or hobbies. UAlbany is a community of thousands of people, all unique in their own ways. Every person I have encountered, whether it’s a stranger or one of my closest friends, has their own dreams, goals and aspirations. College is a place where self expression is accepted and encouraged, and so it makes it a really easy place to start over as a new you. The new you who doesn’t let other people’s opinions affect them. The new you who makes their own decisions. The new you who looks at everything positively. I encourage everyone to find themselves in this journey that is higher education.

Melissa F.
Class of 2018
Majors: Spanish & Communication
Blog Theme: Fierce & Freaked

Please Note: The views of our student bloggers do not necessarily reflect the views of the UAlbany Advisement Services Center. These are their stories and their voices.