In the blink of an eye it’s finals week!
As college applications deadlines come to an end, many students are frantically waiting for feedback. But what about the students who have already gotten their decisions? That have already graduated?
Liv DesAustels, a 2023 graduate of Bear River, was immersed into her college experience at the University of Nevada-Reno this fall.
“College was different for me in a lot of ways, but what surprised me the most, when you get there, is that you are living where you go to school,” DesAutels said. “You are always immersed in school, you live school, eat school, do school, breathe school.”
Many seniors get so caught up in the application process that they forget to think about the journey that lies ahead. Some Bruins who graduated last year felt college wasn’t a huge culture shock..
“No. It was about what I expected it to be,” Zack DeCicco said. DeCicco is a 2023 graduate of Bear River who attends UNR alongside DesAutels. Many of Bear Rivers students know DeCicco as an outgoing classmate, who never failed to put a smile on someone’s face, but also as Mike DeCicco’s son, who is a teacher at Bear River.
Shayne Middleton, another graduate of 2023 is attending Sierra College and majoring in Child Psychology.
“I think the biggest change for me was not being around as many people as I was in highschool, it’s difficult not seeing all my friends everyday,” she said.
Zack DeCicco doesn’t feel too alienated though — he still has some friends from his high school years who he sees at UNR.
“Liv DesAutels and I live right next to one another, so I see her very often,” DeCicco said. “Ella Nawrocki, Sammy Sypnicki and Joey Knox also go here. I don’t see them as much but when I do, I say hi.”
Although it’s an enjoyable experience, there are going to be some hardships, but DeCicco showed us that he is a glass half full type of guy when he thinks about his challenges throughout his first semester.
“The freedom that I have. I can get up and decide what I want to do and do that. It’s also nice having no classes on Fridays,” he said. “I appreciate the freedom aspect of it. I wasn’t expecting that but I’m loving it!”
Change isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, though.
“It’s going to be scary, you’re going to face challenges,” DeCicco said. “But it’s part of college and that’s ok. Challenges with classes, friends, roommates happen. It’s part of college.
“Don’t be scared, be excited for what the future holds for you. Your college experience is going to be as good as you make it.”
“The week leading up to me leaving, my stomach was in knots, it had to be the most nervous I’ve ever been,” DesAutels admits. “If I had to give you one piece of advice, I’d say meet every single person you possibly can, because they are in the same boat as you. Your company and friends will be so influential on a positive experience.”
So give it your all on your finals, and power through it — soon you could be where all your beloved graduates are.