A Little Extra Help [My Goals for Sophomore Year!]

Before I'd officially become a student at The University of Texas at Austin, my mother was convinced that I needed a step stool.

"No," I told her flatly, folding my arms across my chest. We were in the middle of Bed Bath & Beyond, where several other families squeezed their way around us with shopping carts and last-minute college essentials. My mother looked down at the Kikkerland Rhino step stool in her hands, as if she saw something in it that I couldn't.

"How are you going to get into bed at night, anak?" she challenged. "It's several feet off the ground! You're going to hurt yourself."

I don't know what was more embarrassing—my mother lecturing me in the middle of a department store or me denying my disadvantageous height. Nevertheless, I took the step stool from her and dropped it into our cart.

"You can buy it," I told her as we wheeled ourselves towards check-out. "But I am not going to use it."

As per my mother's predictions, I did have trouble crawling into bed that night. I unfolded the expensive step stool and hoisted myself onto the mattress with little effort. Since then, my Kikkerland Rhino has served as a laptop stand, a shoe rack. A sorry excuse for a chair whenever my boyfriend came to visit. And all the while, I could hear my mother's exasperated voice in my head. I told you so.

My parents did everything in their power to prepare me for my freshman year of college. Tuition? Covered. Moving van? Borrowed. Emergency underwear? Packed. I didn't realize it at the time, but having a family that supports me after high school is both a blessing and a privilege. My only hope is that I never take that support—and the people that offer it so freely—for granted.

Fast forward to present day, I am far less prepared for my sophomore year of college. My clothes are unpacked; I have no bedroom furniture. For personal reasons, my roommate and boyfriend are helping me move into my apartment instead of my family. I had to come to terms with the fact that I needed their help, just as I'd agreed to let my mother buy me a twenty-five-dollar step stool. I thank God for giving me a close friend and partner whom I can rely on throughout difficult situations, and I'm certain that my second move to Austin, Texas will be just as memorable as my first.

That said, here are 5 goals I have outlined for my sophomore year at UT. Feel free to reflect on your own goals for the upcoming school year! With the uncertainties revolving COVID-19 and its impact on education, keeping your eye on the prize(s) is a great way to feel more prepared.

1. Manage my online classes + remote internship.

This may sound like a given, but I think it's important to place your education at the top of your priority list. I often daydream of the ideal "college experience"—going on dates, playing pool with friends. Eating frosty after frosty at Jester Wendy's. However, I never want to lose sight of the real reason I'm attending college: to get a higher education. To network, gain work experience. To figure out what I want to be when I grow up. (Besides, COVID-19 is keeping me far away from any restaurant or social gathering. It's a small sacrifice with a huge, healthy payoff!)

2. Learn to cook.

Admittedly, I am not the best in the kitchen. I can scramble eggs and boil soup at most. The solution to this? My mom and I filmed a few cooking videos so I could bring her recipes to school! Our first installment of this series—titled Magno Meals—is up on my YouTube channel. I hope to edit and publish more episodes in the coming weeks!

3. Make use of UT's mental health resources.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. It took me a long time to realize this. If you are attending UT Austin this fall, the Counseling and Mental Health Center provides group therapy sessions and short-term individual counseling, free of charge. It amazed me how easy it was to make a phone call and schedule an appointment over Zoom. There is no shame in seeking help, no matter the circumstance. Your mind will thank you for it!

4. Strengthen my interpersonal relationships.

I haven't seen my boyfriend and a few of my closest friends in months, so I am excited to reunite with them! Whether we go on socially distanced walks or order curbside pickup, navigating a global pandemic will definitely be easier with them by my side. My goal is to cherish every moment I have alongside the people I love—all while sporting stylish face masks.

5. Reconnecting with God.

Ever since quarantine started, I have felt increasingly distant from my relationship with God—even when I needed Him most. I grew apathetic towards watching mass on the television, towards prayer and meditation. As a result, I barely recognized myself. My identity as a Catholic was so important to me in high school—what happened? How did I allow myself to neglect what was once the center of everything I did?

Though I will explore this more in a future blog post, I came to realize that being an adult in the Catholic Church entails much more than attending mass and mouthing the prayers. It requires a trust fall into God's open arms. It requires a deep understanding of your values and a willingness to act on them. I feel most like myself when I'm living in accordance to my Catholic faith, and I want to dedicate my sophomore year towards rekindling my relationship with God and placing Him at the forefront of my actions.

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Thank you for reading my top 5 goals for my sophomore year of college! As always, give this post a like and enter your email in the subscription box below. My inbox and I appreciate it.

Additionally, I hope you fill your day with things that make you feel most like yourself—whether that be your religion, your passions, or otherwise. May you find what brings you peace and joy during these challenging times. And remember: don't be afraid to seek (or accept) help along the way. ♡