For freshmen, the rapidly approaching end of the fall semester signals a chance to reflect on the many changes they have undergone.
For many, the transition from high school to college proved to be an uncomfortable learning process. Rigorous college courses, a plethora of new faces from a variety of different backgrounds and the onslaught of new personal responsibilities may have initially seemed overwhelming for many new students who gradually learned to adjust. For international students, the cultural transitions they must undergo often add additional complications. Despite the extra pressures, Chinese students Ziyun Chen, freshman in pre-business, and Ying Zhou, freshman in accounting, have made the transition with remarkable grace.
Chen first came to the United States as a foreign exchange student her senior year of high school. Though she initially experienced a little bit of culture shock, she quickly adjusted.
"I have a really lovely host family," Chen said. "So I really love them and they helped me to get used to it."
Chen said being an exchange student in high school helped her transition to college.
Chen's sociology teacher in high school was an Auburn alumnus and introduced Chen to the school.
"When I tried to apply to this college here, she gave me a lot of help and she just introduced Auburn to me," Chen said.
Chen noted some differences between college and high school.
"I think college is different because you need to focus on your major and you have to meet different kinds of people. In high school it's just based on what you are interested in," Chen said.
Chen's favorite course has been English composition.
"I like it because I like my professor," Chen said.
Zhou, on the other hand, attended all of her years of high school in China. Zhou did not feel like her experiences in high school prepared her for college.
"My high school did not teach us how to [be] - independent, but college did," Zhou said.
Zhou came to America in May of this year (2013?) and says her time at Auburn has been exciting, though she has worked hard. Thus far, the biggest cultural surprise she has encountered has been the welcoming attitudes of those on campus.
"Its people here are friendly and willing to help others," Zhou said.
While many freshmen struggle to definitively decide what major to pursue, both Zhou and Chen found their decision to be relatively easy.
"My parents are majors of business too, so that's why I chose business," Chen said.
Though Chen felt confident about her choice of major, she was still unsure of what exactly she wanted to do with her major.
Zhou said she decided to pursue a degree in accounting as she has been interested in the subject since she was a child.
Zhou and Chen felt relatively confident about their upcoming finals.
"Finals make me feel excited and a little nervous," Zhou said.
Chen does not anticipate her finals being hard.
"I feel pretty good. It's not like a big deal for me, but I think, because I'm still a freshman, not a lot of classes are really hard," Chen said. "I'll figure it out."
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