By Randall Rojas
Randall Rojas is a software development student at Central New Mexico Community College with an interest in both programming and design. He enjoys creating clean, simple visuals that still tell a meaningful story, and this project focuses on highlighting important figures in U.S. military history. His goal is to combine technical skills with creativity to build projects that are both informative and visually engaging.
Starting college can be exciting, but for me, it was also extremely nerve-racking. When I returned to school, I was dealing with anxiety, self-acceptance, and being very self-conscious about myself and how I would fit in. It is easy to look around at other students and assume everyone else knows exactly what they are doing. I definitely did not feel that way. One thing I have learned is that you do not have to have everything figured out before you start. Sometimes starting is how you begin figuring it out.
Coming back to school a little older has actually made college feel easier for me in some ways. When I was younger, school did not always feel as important as it does now. This time around, I am able to focus more on my assignments and understand why I am doing the work in the first place. I have goals that matter to me, so an assignment is not just something I have to finish for a grade. It feels connected to where I am trying to go. Being older does not mean school suddenly becomes easy, but having a reason for being there can change the way you approach it.
Time management was one of the biggest things I struggled with when I came back. There were times when it felt like I was doing schoolwork all day, every day. Even when I was not sitting at my computer working on an assignment, I was thinking about the next deadline or everything else I still needed to finish. Eventually, I realized that doing well in college could not mean giving every minute of my life to school. I had to start thinking about balance: school, work, family, personal time, and even just having enough time to relax without feeling guilty about it.
Money also plays a part in that balance. It is much easier to focus on your goals when you are not constantly worried about how you are going to pay for everything. I have been trying to find ways to earn more income while going to school so I can feel more comfortable pursuing the things I am interested in. That has made me think differently about work-school-life balance. Sometimes success is not about doing everything at once. It is about building enough stability that you can keep moving toward what matters to you without burning yourself out.
If you are starting college and you are nervous, anxious, or unsure about where you fit, that does not mean you are doing it wrong. You may change your plans. You may struggle with your schedule. You might even wonder sometimes whether you belong there. Give yourself time to adjust. Ask for help when you need it, learn what works for you, and remember that you do not need your entire future mapped out on the first day. I still do not have everything figured out, but I know a lot more about where I am going than I did when I started – and sometimes that is enough.
Image Used: Studying.jpg Description: Student studying for final exams. Source: Wikimedia Commons Credit: Gnarlycraig Rights / License: Public Domain — released into the public domain by the copyright holder Source Page: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Studying.jpg