By Skyler Pak
Special to The Tribune
We checked in with five members of San Marino High School’s graduating class of 2019, and asked them to let us know how their college experience is going so far. They were requested to let us know what their major is, whether they are enjoying their first year of college, how college is different from high school and to let us know their favorite part of college so far.
Patricio Osegueda
Loyola Marymount University
I am majoring in mechanical engineering. I’ve been loving my first year, and although it has been stressful at times, I always find myself loving every day of it.
The obvious difference is the amount and rigor of work, but the biggest and best difference is your complete control over your schedule. You choose when you go to class, work, eat, sleep, go out, exercise and because of that, you can manage your time in a way you know you’ll allow yourself to succeed.
My favorite part of college has been being surrounded by countless of like-minded people. Going to class, studying, eating, going to the beach, and living with people who share your passions and drive is an incredible and motivating feeling.
Olivia Ruiz
Pasadena City College
I’m majoring in communications, focusing more on marketing.
I love my first year. My grades have improved since high school, and overall I am having a great time.
College is different from high school because you have more freedom. Even though I go to a city college, it’s a lot more freedom and a lot less strict than high school. It’s more fun since you get to study what you want to major in and are interested in.
My favorite part of college is meeting new people. I have met so many new friends, and I’m excited to meet a lot more.
Chloe Leftwich
University of Oregon
I am currently undeclared, but I plan on majoring in general social science with a concentration in either globalization, environment and policy or in crime, law and society. I’m still deciding that part seeing as they’re pretty different from each other.
I’m loving college. I really like the classes I’m taking. My friends are amazing; I’m with them for the majority of my days. I love the weather; it’s pretty different from SM. The food is pretty good, but I do miss my mom’s cooking. Everyone is very spirited, which makes games and the student section that much more fun to be apart of.
Class size is one of the biggest differences. A majority of my classes are in big lecture halls with about 400 people per session. But they’re paired with smaller discussion classes of about 30 people, which is nice. The big lectures aren’t as bad as one would think; I for one really like them.
I also enjoy the fact that I can build my own schedule, which I couldn’t necessarily do in high school. There are a multitude of classes to choose from in all these different departments, and I can register for the class time I like the best. It can be stressful picking classes but you can always make an appointment with an adviser to talk it out.
My favorite part of college so far would probably be my living situation. I was really nervous about it going into it, but it ended up working in my favor. I’m good friends with my roommate and most of the people on my floor. There’s a mix of personalities and chosen majors, but we’re all friendly and supportive of each other.
Ben Miller
USC
I am majoring in political science and chemistry.
I am loving my first year in college. I have met so many amazing new people and get to focus on my specific areas of interest. I have learned so much, not just in the classes that I am taking, but also in the day-to-day experiences I have.
There is a lot more social and intellectual freedom in college than there is in high school. Assignments are no longer specifically outlined, and we get to pursue our own curiosities. Furthermore, I have been exposed to a new group of people who come from a variety of backgrounds and parts of the world. It’s like a better version of high school with more work and more fun.
My favorite part of college thus far has been the people. I have met the most amazing group of people who share common interests and professional goals. It’s different in college because you are surrounded by your friends basically 24/7, so it definitely takes some time to acclimate. It’s a little bit of a transition, but after awhile you find your group of people.
Sean Chen
USC
I am majoring in biological sciences.
My first year has been good. It was a big transition, but it’s been a lot of fun. College feels like high school on a much larger scale. There are a ridiculous number of clubs that you can join such as volunteering, social, sports and art clubs. There are so many more people on campus and it can be overwhelming at times, but it’s also exciting because you never know who you’re going to meet. You also have a much wider range of classes to take.
This year, I took a Chinese performance art class and created and presented my own performance work, which is something I would never have imagined I’d be doing.
My favorite part of college so far has been the football games. It’s an indescribable experience to be in such a huge stadium packed with so many screaming fans. Also, Quavo and Saweetie came to our school for a free concert. That was a fun night.
