Is it really over? Freshman year seems to have just started yesterday. I vividly remember moving in and writing my first entry; this morning I moved out and now I am writing my last entry. Freshman year has flown by at warp speed and now, as I sit waiting in the Houston airport for my flight home, it all seems so surreal.
I cannot begin to convey how much this year has changed me. The many events that I have relayed to you through my diary entries are among those that have significantly formed my first year experience at UR. Within my first year, I experienced living on my own for the first time. I learned what it is like to be independent and self-reliant, two qualities that have helped me to mature into my own person. I have also experienced totally new places, including my travels and the city of Richmond itself. Along with my exposure to new places, I have learned new cultures and met new people. I have also formed meaningful relationships with incredibly talented and interesting people from all over the world. And above all, I have had the privilege of attending ten UR classes and learning from dedicated professors who have challenged my way thinking and supported me in my academic and personal endeavors. Â
No amount of pictures or blog entries can sum up these past nine months. I have had nothing but opportunities ever since I was accepted into the University of Richmond. My first year was an incredible success and I cannot wait to see what the next three years have in store for me. Thank you for sharing my first year with me, dear readers, I hope yours will be just as amazing.
Signing off,
Kim
I am writing to you during my last weekend as a University of Richmond freshman. My friends and I decided to make it an unforgettable last weekend (as unforgettable as it gets, considering we all have finals to study for!) to celebrate our successful completion of freshman year.
As a last campus-sponsored event, the University brought Guster, a native Boston band, to perform. The band played in the Robins Center, UR’s basketball arena and athletic headquarters, and attracted a decent sized crowd for such a small student population. My group of friends and I celebrated by going off campus for dinner, then going to the concert. I exposed them to my favorite cuisine – Vietnamese! – and am happy to say that everyone enjoyed it. After the concert, we all decided to enjoy the surprisingly nice weather and hung out on the Westhampton Green while enjoying our last hours of freedom before quiet hours began for finals week.
And here I am, writing to you before I enter finals. For the next four days, I will be studying, taking three exams within twenty four hours, and writing two papers. Although these four days seem like forever, I will get back to you soon enough and let you know how it goes!
Guster at UR!
 
Friends at Guster
 
Friends on our last night
I have just returned from nine blissful days of spring break, only to be welcomed by dreary rain. However, spring flowers are starting to bloom and little tufts of green are popping out of the ground, so campus will be gorgeous soon!
The week leading up to spring break was quite miserable, to say the least. I had a midterm in every class, two papers and a presentation due. Â All this to say, spring break was very much needed and came just in time.
Now that I am back on campus, I am focused on finishing up my year! I am very proud to say that I have successfully survived three quarters of my first year of college! Only five more weeks of classes and one week of finals until I am completely done; it’s unbelievable!
Besides schoolwork, there are tons of activities planned for the rest of the semester. This week’s highlights include St. Patrick’s Day, my birthday, and a class of 2012 celebration! Of course, the school will go all out for St. Patrick’s Day like it does for every other holiday, so I will definitely keep you updated. Also, I am turning the big 1-9 on Thursday, and to celebrate that, I will continue my search for delicious eats by trying out a new restaurant. And to end the first week back, the Richmond and Westhampton class of 2012 will throw a luau on the Westhampton Green to celebrate our survival of freshman year. I will be taking pictures, so keep an eye out for updates on this week’s festivities!
