I can’t believe it’s already February. Time here at Juniata goes by so fast, and I have trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that in a few short months, I will already be done with my freshman year of college. It has been an amazing experience so far, and as I begin tackling my second semester at Juniata, I can’t help but look back on the last six months and think about how wonderful they have been.
A few days after classes started in the fall, I auditioned for Julius Caesar. I was so incredibly lucky to be cast, and had the time of my life putting on such an amazing show. I made so many new friends through the theatre program, and I cannot wait to see what productions they offer in the future. Later in the semester, my acting class put on A Christmas Carol, and I again got to have a wonderful time putting on a magical production with some incredibly talented people.
One of the best things about Juniata is how many events they hold on campus that are open to students. I attended quite a few of them last semester, and from Mr. Juniata to Madrigal, there is never a dull moment at this school. By far my favorite event that I attended, was Spanish Immersion Day. Once a year in October, a bunch of students and Spanish faculty get together and travel down to the Raystown Field Station where, after taking an oath to not speak English, we spend the day conversing and playing games in Spanish, eating some amazing food and enjoying the company of those who share the same passion for the language that you do. It was honestly one of the best days of my life.
My time so far at Juniata has been incredible, and the only real problem I had last semester is something that a lot of college freshmen struggle with; being homesick. I would definitely say I am a homebody and I shocked myself when I ended up picking a college that is over four hours away from home. At first, I was so excited to be in college that I didn’t think much about home. But once my parents came to visit, I realized how much I missed them. Luckily, I was surrounded by such amazing friends who always helped me feel better whenever I got homesick and my parents were only a phone call away. Now, being back after a month off, I feel better about being far away and I am ready to conquer whatever the future may bring.
Overall, my first semester at Juniata was incredible. Besides the occasional spell of homesickness, the first half of the year was a breeze. Now, already a couple weeks in, I feel ready to tackle the second semester at this amazing school that I am lucky enough to call my new home.
-Juliana Shugar ’23, Spanish and Secondary Education POE,
Disney-loving ice cream connoisseur
