What I Wish I Knew as a First Year

Starting college felt like stepping into an entirely new world. Everything moved faster, the expectations were higher, and for the first time, I was fully responsible for shaping my own path. I arrived thinking I needed to have all the answers — what to study, which opportunities to chase, and exactly who I wanted to become. Looking back now, I see how much pressure I placed on myself to move quickly and succeed immediately.

What I wish I knew then is that growth does not happen in straight lines. It is built slowly through curiosity, patience, and the willingness to keep going even when things feel uncertain. If I could speak to my first year self, these are the things I would want to say.

It Is All Right to Not Know Yet

In the beginning, I believed that everyone else had already figured out their direction, and that I was behind because I had not. I spent months trying to map out a complete plan for the next four years, forcing myself to choose a clear path before I had explored anything.

I now know that this urgency was unnecessary. Some of the most meaningful experiences I have had at CMU were ones I never could have predicted. They appeared through chance conversations, side projects, and unexpected opportunities. I only found them because I allowed myself to be curious rather than certain.

It is all right to not have a perfect answer in the beginning. College is not about arriving with a complete map, it is about discovering the terrain by walking through it.

Curiosity Matters More Than Perfection

In my first year, I often avoided subjects or projects that felt intimidating because I was afraid of making mistakes. I thought success meant doing everything well on the first try. That belief quietly held me back from taking risks.

Over time, I learned that mistakes are not signs of failure. They are often the first step toward real understanding. Some of my strongest skills were built on failed attempts that forced me to rethink my approach. Curiosity leads to growth far more reliably than perfection does.

Trying something new, even if it goes poorly, often teaches more than doing something safe and familiar. I wish I had embraced that sooner.

Ask for Help and Build Relationships

One of the biggest changes in my experience came when I started reaching out to others for advice. Early on, I stayed quiet when I was struggling, thinking I needed to prove I could handle everything alone. I did not realize how many people around me genuinely wanted to help.

Professors, mentors, and older students were often happy to share guidance, but they could not do that unless I asked. Those conversations shaped my path more than any lecture or assignment. They also taught me that growth is not only about building knowledge — it is about building relationships.

If I had known how valuable it is to ask questions early and often, I would have found my footing much sooner.

Balance Is Not a Distraction From Progress

Another lesson I wish I had understood is that rest and balance are not distractions. During my first year, I believed progress meant filling every hour with work. I treated exhaustion as proof of effort. Over time, I realized that constant motion does not always mean moving forward.

Taking time to slow down and reflect made me more focused, more creative, and more resilient. It allowed me to return to my work with clarity instead of burnout. True growth does not come from pushing endlessly. It comes from sustaining the curiosity and energy to keep learning over time.

What I Carry Forward

Looking back, I see how much my first year shaped me, even through all its uncertainty. It taught me that not knowing is part of the process, that curiosity is stronger than fear of failure, and that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Most of all, it taught me that growth is not about racing ahead, it is about staying open — open to new ideas, open to people, and open to the unexpected turns that make the journey meaningful.

That is what I wish I had known as a first year. It is also what I hope to carry with me wherever I go next.