By Dylan Knight
Staff Writer
Freshman year can be a time of exhilaration, independence and adventure. It can also, however, be a time of chaos, confusion and uncertainty. And although California State University, Bakersfield isn’t exactly an Ivy League college, thousands of students attend every year and become ‘Runners.
For those who have spent their entire lives in Bakersfield, the campus may not be anything other than usual, but to some students, it’s an entirely different world. Coming from Porterville, Bakersfield felt like an over-populated, metropolitan city, but not all share this view.
“There’s a lot more to do in San Diego,” stated Gabriella Strand, 18, a freshman criminal justice major.
I feel happy now just to live in a place with more than one Wal-Mart and dining experiences other than fast-food chains or Denny’s for those special occasions.
City life aside, college freshmen also have to adapt to a new variety of people. Living in the dorms, especially the freshmen dorm, Rivendell, one can be exposed to a variety of personalities and has to discover a way to combine everyone into a working community.
“The first day, me and a few other people went knocking on people’s doors so we pretty much have the whole dorm connected. Everyone knows each other,” said Travis MacChesny, 18, a freshman criminal justice major who is originally from Rancho Cucamonga.
Surprisingly, the dorm building seemed pretty calm although its residents had just arrived.
I went from being a sheltered, small town girl constantly under the watchful eye of my parents, to living in what seemed like a hostel with shared bathrooms, a common area and even a co-ed floor. You could say that I quickly got sucked into the social scene. With new friends come new experiences, for me this consisted of staying up late, partying, skipping class and living the college life in a haze of fun. But to these big-city freshmen, Bakersfield seems almost innocent in comparison to their hometowns.
“We’ve had a lot of fun just hanging out in each others dorm room or watching movies until 3 a.m.,” remarked MacChesney. Strand agreed that the Rivendell tenants are happy staying inside and playing Just Dance and having horror film marathons.
“I haven’t really been doing anything crazy but it’s really cool being on your own and not having to depend on your parents,” said Cassandra Ream, 17, a freshman pre-nursing major.
When asked about dorm life, Ream also added, “It’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I actually like it.“
The college setting is vastly different than high school where parents and teachers usually keep students on track. As an adult in college, the responsibility is yours.
“Basically everything is on you, either you show up to class or you don’t,” said Aracely Ramirez, 18, a freshman liberal studies major.
Whether you are from Bakersfield or came here to study from across the map, your freshman year of college can range from the best years of your life to the days you hoped to overcome quickly just to get the degree. This group of freshmen seems to be on the right track for the upcoming years.
To make college a worthwhile experience, explore your campus. Getting involved with clubs, attending ASI events, hanging out with friends you’ve made in class, and even going to a party will broaden your horizons.
