With the 2025-2026 academic year coming to a close for high schools and colleges across the nation, I have felt a need to reflect upon my intentions for my next couple years of undergrad. However, this has also called for me to look back on my last two school years—to consider the growth I have undergone within the past four semesters and to recall my expectations for university as a high school graduate. Unfortunately, two years can feel like a lifetime ago, and I am sure that many, if not most of us, who are midway through our undergraduate years have difficulty remembering what we were hoping, above all else, to get out of university. So to better orient myself within the mind of an incoming college freshman, I decided to interview my sister, Gwenyth—a graduating high school senior and soon-to-be student athlete for the Lees-McRae College Division 1 cycling team.
I asked her a series of thirteen questions, all related to her perspective on the college experience before having the opportunity to even step on campus. But rather than having her expand upon what she is most excited about for college, we framed her expectations in terms of her priorities, plans, skill set, and toolbox, as they have been formed without the influence of a college experience.
When asked what aspects of her life she intends to prioritize, Gwenyth shared that while starting out her mountain biking career in high school, she learned the importance of maintaining her physical and mental well-being. She established a strong sense of routine by aligning the blocks of time within which she trained and finished homework with the times of day when her energy levels were highest. As of now, she expects that being able to effectively balance her sport and studies will prove to be her most challenging task. Her plan to ensure that she effectively cares for her health involves maintaining a healthy diet; settling in for bed at a reasonable time and getting an ample amount of sleep; exercising regularly—through other forms of movement outside of her cycling training; and designating limited blocks of time for her assignments so as to not overwork herself.
I was also curious about which resources from home and at her university she believes will be most helpful in aiding her transition and navigating the next four years. She shared that other than having learned in high school how to manage making time for schoolwork, the people in her life, and activities she enjoys—like drawing, painting, camping, and swimming—she expects to glean a large amount of support from her teammates, coaches, and professors at Lees-McRae. As for setting herself up for life after graduation, during the school years, she will likely end up dedicating all of her time to her studies and athletics while becoming more involved with internship opportunities that bring her one step closer to a career in physical therapy during her summers.
Many of us current university students may remember assuming that our experiences would look very much like what my sister has envisioned for herself. Regardless of this idealism, my hope for my sister is that throughout her college journey, she develops strong values and versatile habits. When asked which of such she would prefer to come away with, she listed the virtues of leaning into patience, peace, and rest.
By the time she graduates, I want her to be able to call to mind her intentions for her college experience while the thrill of high school seniority is still the fuel for her fire. My ideal is for her to appreciate the growth she experienced during her time as a university student and to be able to say that despite any interruptions in her plans, she was able to have it all in college and made every opportunity to learn—both within and outside of the classroom—worthwhile.
By Lauren Gascon
Lauren Gascon studies Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU and enjoys discussing people’s relationships with each other and themselves. When she’s not on campus, you can find her café hopping, browsing bookstores, or enjoying lunch in one of New York City’s many beautiful parks.
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