Category: Olivia

By Olivia Fletcher

Hint: there is no “right” way.

You can get into a routine before classes start, find your favorite study spot, call home, or watch your comfort show after a long day. These things can help, but they cannot completely prepare you for walking into a new semester and realizing that everything feels both different and exactly the same.

I think we put a lot of pressure on the beginning of a school year. A new schedule, maybe new clubs or jobs, and sometimes even a new apartment or friend group can make it feel like we are supposed to be a new version of ourselves too. We see the first day as a clean slate, as if we are supposed to come back shinier, more confident and somehow more put together than we were before. But you do not have to be a brand new person just because it is a brand new school year!

For me, it feels like nothing and everything has changed. I am not the same person I was during my freshman or sophomore year, but pieces of those versions of me are still here. I still love to try whatever the new fall flavors are at Trader Joe’s every season (try their pumpkin brioche bread). Some other habits, like doing homework in my bed, are ones I’ve outgrown. And some lessons took longer to learn than I expected.

Growing up is not about leaving every past version of yourself behind. It is about figuring out which parts are worth carrying forward and which ones you are ready to leave behind.

So, how do you start a brand new school year? Try something new or follow the same habits you’re used to. Change your routine if you feel like it. Say yes to something unexpected. But, do not feel like you need to follow a certain path or create an entirely new personality just because the school year started. The most successful way to start a new year is simply to start it as yourself.

By Olivia Fletcher

Speaking from personal experience, starting college can feel overwhelming, especially at BU. Though BU provides a cache of resources, as a freshman, certain spaces and rooms can feel untouchable. If I could give one piece of advice to freshmen, it would be this: say yes. I know it sounds cliché, but it genuinely makes all the difference, especially in those first few weeks. 

My first semester at BU was honestly really hard, and most of the time I felt lost and unsure of where I fit in. But the reason I wasn’t completely miserable was that I pushed myself to say yes, even when it felt uncomfortable or spontaneous, two emotions I had famously steered clear of before college.

One of those moments actually came from my COM ambassador (funny enough), who suggested I check out a film club info session happening in 20 minutes. I had no plans, no expectations, I just went. I physically ran there, joined the club, and ended up getting involved in ways I never imagined. Through that experience, I held positions, met incredible people, and learned something really important about myself: my passions actually extend outside of film. I don’t think I would have figured that out so quickly, or had the confidence to pivot, if I hadn’t taken that initial risk.

More importantly, that one ‘yes’ led me to some of my closest friends, people I still have in my life today. That’s the thing about college: everything is a domino effect. One decision leads to another opportunity, another connection, another path you didn’t even know existed.

So go to the club meeting. Introduce yourself to someone new. Try something that might not seem like “your thing.” You’re not wasting your time. You’re building experiences, learning about yourself, and creating the foundation for your college life. The more you show up, the more you’ll get out of it.