Photo by: Ariana Hernandez
By: Ariana Hernandez
College is not one-size-fits-all. Behind every dorm room door and commuter car ride lies a story formed by identity, distance, and discovery. Here are some insights to the college experience provided by students.
Breaking The Myth
Movies and television often portray college as a whirlwind of parties, skipped classes and spontaneous adventures. For many students, though, the reality looks quite different and is far more nuanced marked by personal growth, academic pressure, and quiet transformation.
The Power of Perspective
Every student arrives on campus with a distinct lens. Identity, environment and expectations all influence how they interpret their time in higher education. Some embrace the social scene, while others find meaning in quieter moments of growth, challenge and reflection.
First Generation Students: Discovery Over Distraction
Not all students arrive with a clear roadmap. For some, college is less about following a familiar script and more about learning to navigate unfamiliar terrain in academics, relationships and personal development.
Adriana Gonzales, a communication arts major and officer with UIW First Gen, sees college as something deeper than the stereotype. “As a first gen, I came into college and thought, I need to get to business. I have things to do while I’m here. College is really just finding where you fit, finding what and understanding the space around you.”
Students from first-generation backgrounds often focus on academic growth and personal progress. Without inherited expectations or family experience in higher education, their journey is guided by self-direction and purpose.
Commuter Realities: Campus as a Workplace
While some students immerse themselves in campus life, others engage from the margins. They balance coursework with off-campus responsibilities and spend limited time on site.
Commuter students experience college through a different lens shaped by distance, scheduling and logistical challenges. William Xiao, a biology student on the pre-med track, shared his perspective. “It’s really hard to build close connections with my peers, you know? I’m not really on campus a lot. And when it comes to preparation for the school day, it just feels more like a job rather than me being a student and learning here.”
For commuters, the rhythm of college can feel transactional. Limited time on campus often reduces opportunities for spontaneous interaction and makes it harder to feel fully engaged in the academic community.
First-Year Students: Beginnings in Real Time
The transition into college life brings a mix of anticipation and vulnerability. For students just beginning their journey, the shift from home to campus can be both liberating and disorienting.
Sophia Kaiser, a first-year interior design student, shared her experience, “Moving in was weird because you’re by yourself, though I did know my roommate, which was really nice. The first two nights, I was so sad to leave my parents because I’m the last child out of five. But I’ve gotten a little more into the routine of being away from home. And me and my roommate are trying to make our dorm very homey.”
Her story reflects the quiet emotional work of adjusting. She is learning to find comfort in new routines and reshaping unfamiliar spaces into something that feels like her own.
Redefining the ‘Typical’ College Experience
Students like Gonzales, Xiao and Kaiser are a reminder that success in higher education does not follow a single path. Each student’s approach is shaped by their circumstances, whether it involves family background, commuting or emotional transition. These differences redefine what college can look like. The experience is not about fitting a mold. It is about making meaning in the spaces each student occupies.
College offers a wide range of opportunities, but how students choose to engage with them is entirely personal. There is no universal blueprint for success, and growth does not require following someone else’s journey. Whether exploring new ideas, navigating unfamiliar territory or gradually discovering where you belong, the “true” college experience is curiosity, reflection and choices that feel authentic.
