Going Home - The Freshman Point of View

By Lissette Ledesma, UA Senior

The last final is finished! While final grades are slowly entered into countless excel worksheets across campus freshmen are dusting their televisions and packing the last memories of their first year. They’ve packed that year full of sparkling new friends, mind captivating organizations and interesting experiences, but now it’s time to leave. Many found great summer camps to work at during the summer, while others plan on experiencing the heated bowl that is Tucson, and perhaps most plan on spending their summer following old footsteps by going home! For some going home is the only alternative, while for others it is the only place where their case of homesickness will finally cease. But what does going home mean?

The most important question for the newly labeled sophomore is “what am I going to do about my 3am trip to Highland Market for my 8oz energy drink?” Rest assured that there are gallons of energy drink for all. But the fundamental question remains – what about the best thing about that freshmen year – freedom?! The concept of freedom is sometimes the only issue that frustrates parent and student relationships during freshmen year. Students ponder as they swipe their Catcard, “since I am so far away, will my parents find out everything that happens to me?” The other side of the spectrum reveals a parent’s anxiety, which can only be tamed by the weekly phone call they receive from their student. However, now that the student is back, will their old stomping grounds satisfy the student’s new-found taste of freedom? It is impossible to mimic the atmosphere that the UA builds for its student, but going home definitely has its advantages!

As parents silently shed tears of both joy and relief when they see their student standing next to their torn cardboard boxes and scribbled white board, students often dread the idea of being under their parents’ rule again. Going home is such an underappreciated concept after freshmen year because students don’t always realize how nice it is to come home to the familiar - almost every face they see triggers a name and vague memory. Coming back to an old room can even offer some new insight in life and I am certain their year away at college will definitely heighten their appreciation for a home cooked meal! For students, worrying about freedom is probably that last thing they should consider because by the time they realize they’ve have spent their summer at home, they will be packing bottles of water, hangers and new picture frames for their highly anticipated sophomore year!