Hannah Thomson

HONR
Dr. Arnold
13 November 2014
Reflective Essay
Throughout my first semester in college I have had one of the biggest learning
experiences of my life. College will teach you a lot of things and I know for a fact Im not done
learning yet. College not only gives you an education, but real world experience as well. The
biggest change that I have experienced was through friends. I was one of those girls who did not
want to leave her best friends back home and make new ones at school. When I got to UNCC on
move in day I quickly realized how special my suit mates were. Not only did we have the same
personality but the same habits and same values as well. Friendship is so important when going
away from home and UNCC definitely gave me the friends I needed to get through the first
semester, the first year, and rest of my college career. I saw the value of friendship through my
suit mates, my classes, and the University Honors College.
Like previously stated my suit mates were automatically my friends. We clicked from
the beginning and I am so thankful that God put them in my life. Cassidy, Melissa, and I were
matched completely randomly! All three of us signed up for the Leadership Learning
Community and by Gods grace we were placed together. They are two awesome girls who have
a heart for the Lord and making a difference in peoples lives. I now confide in these girls for a
lot of decisions. I know that I can trust their opinion and their logic when making tough
decisions.

Secondly I valued friendship in my classes. When signing up for classes I began to

worry about how many credit hours I was taking, if I wanted morning or night classes, if I could
get away without having Friday classes, and most importantly my teachers! While sitting in a
computer lab in Fretwell early one Wednesday morning I looked at the computer lab with a
blank space because I had absolutely no idea where to even begin. Luckily, Dr. Szmer, my
advisor was there to help me through it. He often tried to meet my requests by picking the
professors he thought were very good teachers and would be benefit me the most. When leaving
this meeting I realized I no idea what I was getting myself into but I decided I was going to trust
the Lord and let everything work itself out. I ended up with mostly morning classes and one
Friday class, definitely a schedule I was content with. When entering my first class on Monday
morning at 9:30 I realized I was just one small little freshman in a classroom of 170 sophomores
and juniors. Luckily the boy sitting next me introduced himself and said he was a engineering
major who had no idea what he was doing in a Political Science classroom. I was thankful to
know I was not the only one who was nervous and uneasy about the first day of classes. As the
semester went on I began to make friends with those sitting around me and we even studied for
tests and quizzes together. We learned to depend on each other to be honest and helpful when it
came to studying because we all wanted an A. Similarly, in the rest of my classes I formed
friendships and leaned on others around me to help me when I was struggling. As much I tended
to lean on others I liked to help my peers and assist in whatever way I could to encourage them.
Lastly I found the importance of friendship through The University Honors Program.
When applying to the honors college I really was not sure if I would get in or not. I was
confident but didnt want to get my hopes too high and then be let down. Thankfully I was
accepted and excited! When attending my first honors college event I met some of the sweetest,

most genuine people. I was thankful to know that some of these people would be in my classes
and all of them would be at UHP events with me! These people not only had a love for learning
but a lover for assisting others in there learning experience. I am so glad that I was accepted into
UHP and found the friends I did in this program.
There is a sense of security in friendship. The friends that I have made throughout my
first semester at UNCC will stick with me for a lifetime! I am able to come home to two
awesome girls who share the same love of Christ as I do, I am able to attend classes with peers
who encourage me to do my best, and I am able to be in UHP with students who have a love for
learning and can go through college in a tighter nit family with me. Overall UNCC has been a
great choice for me and I am so thankful the experiences and friendships this first semester has
given me.