I'm so glad to hand the blog over to Eleni today. This post is full of advice and will hopefully put anyone a little nervous about leaving home at ease.
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Howdy
everyone!
My
name is Eleni Fafoutis and I am currently a second year (Class of 2022!!!) in
the College of Arts and Sciences. I am a Human Biology major on the pre-med
track, so that means I take a lot of STEM courses. I am from Virginia Beach,
Virginia, but did the first half of high school in Santa Margarita, California
(If you went to SMCHS please hit me up!), so I have gotten the best of both
worlds. I’m a huge country music fan (actually saw Luke Combs live at JPJ, or
John Paul Jones Arena), I love SpongeBob, and most importantly, love corny
jokes. I am currently a resident advisor for first years in Dillard Houses, do
work with the Honor Committee as a Support Officer, am secretary for the
American Medical Student Association (AMSA), partake in research, LA for Calculus,
and volunteer with Madison House.
My
first brush with UVA was as a freshman in high school, in California, at the
college fair. I remember seeing a table for UVA and it was crowded (and I found
out later for a good reason!). My mom told me to stop and talk to them, but I
refused. I said, “I’ll never go to school that far away.” I ate those words. We
moved to Virginia, and there I was, a sophomore in high school, sullen at my
sudden uprooting from home and unhappy that my parents were forcing me to go on
a college tour. I’m glad they did. I had an amazing tour guide. Can’t remember
her name now, but she was bubbly and British, and it was hard to not catch her
enthusiasm. Everyone at UVA seemed to have that same energy. People were really
friendly, and everyone was smiling. Folks were full of energy, and everyone
seemed to be doing something- going somewhere, talking to someone, listening to
music, looking over notes, or just enjoying the day. I loved that vibe. I loved
being in a place where everyone was so passionate and enthusiastic about what
they were doing, and from that day in early 2016, I had my heart set on UVA.
When my acceptance came in my senior year of high school, it was an easy ‘yes!’
(Special thanks to DeanJ and CavPup, whose blogs got me through the admission
process!)
When
I finally made my way to summer orientation, however, I was challenged. I am an
only child. When I left for UVA, it was the first time I had ever really,
truly, been away from home. I’d travelled for speech and debate in high school
but nothing compares to the sudden level of independence that was thrust upon
me at college. I moved into Dillard suite 335, nervous at what was to come.
What came was much of what I expected. I felt lonely and scared. Very few
people came from my high school to UVA, so I was essentially starting at a
clean slate. I did not meet my first true friend until mid-October, at the
Gooch-Dillard marshmallow roast and bonfire pit event. From there, the rest of
my semester finished quickly. One course in particular that stood out from
first year was EDHS 4810, or ‘The Science of Happiness.’ Recommended to me by
an summer orientation leader who could see how panicked I was, it was one of
the best and most impactful classes I have taken here. First-years, take note.
Highly recommend. I look back at first-year with fondness. Although I suffered
my fair share of disappointments, the highs outnumber the lows. I joined Honor,
was hired to be an RA, established a solid friend group, met some amazing professors,
enjoyed UVA winning the National Championship, and finished a good chunk of my
pre-med classes. More importantly, I had found my place. By the time I closed
the door for the last time on Dillard 335, I didn’t look back. I was ready to
tackle the challenges of my second year.
When
I returned for second-year, I was back a few weeks earlier than the rest for my
training as an RA, which was an amazing experience. I made so many new friends
among my staff and it was awesome to see what the gears and cogs of running a
university looks like (Shout out to Dean Petters! He does a great job!). I was
so nervous welcoming my residents into Dillard on that first day, but it turns
out I didn’t need to be. I will say that being an RA was one of the best things
to ever happen to me at UVA. I love all my residents and became friends with so
many. It was incredible being a role model and a sort of big sister to these
girls who were navigating the same things I had learned from (if you girlies
are reading this, you’re amazing!). Second year was a big turning point for me
in the sense that I got a true taste of what being a STEM major was like. I
tripled up in my fall semester, taking Neurobiology (BIOL 3050 - tough class
but very interesting!), Biology 1 (love, love, love Prof. Kittlesen), and
Organic Chem 1 all at the same time. It was tough, but I pulled through. By the
way - for you pre-meds out there, I have seriously enjoyed every part of my
‘core’ premed classes so far. All the professors have been amazing and have
cared so much about me and my success in those classes. I also finally got into
the swing of research. Having come out of my ‘training semester,’ I was now a
full-fledged research assistant. I got to learn so much from my PI and the
students I was working with. It was nice to actually be doing real science with
a meaningful end goal.
Part
of what made my fall semester so tough, outside of a difficult course load and
the newness of the RA role, was deciding what major I wanted to be. I was so
torn up. I couldn’t figure out what I wanted, and here is where I offer my
first piece of advice. In a school as big as UVA, you cannot wait for an
opportunity to come and lay down on your metaphorical plate. You have to seek
it yourself, but when you do, the payoff is incredible. I took a course in
public health, did some personal research, and met with professors, and decided
that Human Biology was the major for me, and I am so glad I made that decision!
The day I got my acceptance into the major, I received a list of courses that
all sounded like the most fun and interesting classes I could take at UVA. UVA
has a major for everyone. Whether it be as niche as Human Biology or as broad
as Economics, I promise you will find the major for you. Just don’t be afraid
to look, and take classes outside of your comfort zone.
I
want to take a little bit of time to talk about the current situation. First
and foremost, to whomever is reading this, I hope you are safe and healthy and
your family and friends are as well. This is hard for everyone, especially for
our fourth-years unable to graduate. However, to my current and incoming
first-year friends, I want to offer you a promise: it will be okay. It might be
a little scary and a little troublesome right now, but UVA has an amazing
community. The united front I have seen against this virus has been so
inspirational, with students and faculty joining together to do what’s best for
everyone. Incoming first-years, when you do come to Grounds, whenever that may
be, know that UVA is your home. It’s already your home. We’re ready and waiting
with open arms to have you!
To
close, I wanted to give some random thoughts and realizations that I have had
throughout my time here, to maybe inspire or reassure you.
● Every professor I have ever had here
cares. I have yet to have one - ONE - be mean to me or unkind when I come with
a question. Every professor, in my experience, is willing to help if you show
them you care, and are always there for their students. It’s been incredible to
have such amazing guidance and support from faculty.
● Speaking of professors, special
shoutouts to the Chemistry department. I have personally had Professor Gunnoe,
Professor Welch, and Professor Frantz as well as amazing graduate and
undergraduate lecture and lab TA’s. Everyone is incredibly smart and so willing
to help and I just cannot gush enough about them. Same goes for Biology. I’ve
personally had Professor Kittlesen, Professor Manson, Professor Kawasaki, and
Professor Provencio. All amazing and such understanding and great professors.
Of course, UVA has many, many other great departments as well. Just wanted to
give special love for STEM!
● Take a class out of your comfort
zone. I took an Art History class this semester for my second writing
requirement. It was a seminar on the Parthenon and I have learned so much. It’s
definitely not something I normally take and it is an amazing experience.
● DO take biology and chemistry
together in your first two semesters, if you can, pre-meds. It’s often advised
not to but pairing biology and gen chem your first year is much easier than
pairing biology with organic chemistry your second year. You have been warned.
● This is for people who are
vegetarian (I am!). There are so many great options if you know where to look -
Roots on the corner has some killer barbecue tofu. The dumpling truck is where
you can use plus dollars on their tofu dumplings. Similarly, the other food
trucks have falafel and beans so there are plenty of great options if the
dining hall is lacking!
● The libraries here are really nice.
A personal (yet sadly closed favorite) is Alderman stacks, but Clem and the
Health Sciences libraries are great options as well. Don’t just study in your
room - explore a bit! You can also study in the Rotuna, which is pretty cool.
● Bring a printer. Otherwise you have
to pay for printing everywhere :(
● One regret I have from first year
was not having the philosophy ‘never say no.’ (Okay, say no if something makes
you uncomfortable or feel unsafe, or if it’s irresponsible or dangerous). The
biggest thing you can do in college, especially as you are starting out, is to
put yourself out there. Hang out with people you are not familiar with yet -
you might find a best friend. Go to your RA’s event - even if nobody else is
going, your RA might be a really cool person. Study on the Lawn - those days
are far and few between. Try all the dining halls and see which is best (O’hill
is, as someone who has lived by Runk the past two years). Put yourself out
there and you will reap the rewards in turn. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be your RA
someday. Maybe you’ll meet that professor that changes your major. Maybe you’ll
meet your first friend at a Gooch-Dillard Marshmallow Bonfire.
