When it was time to start my freshman year at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign there was a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was excited to start a new chapter in my life. On the other hand, I was terrified knowing I had a new sense of independence and could explore a new environment. During my first semester at Illinois, it was hard and discouraging when I felt that. I was getting a different treatment than others and nobody would talk to me. It was very intimidating having to prove I was capable and worthy of being in the same class. I felt like I had to work harder than everyone else. 

I had a group of friends from high school attending the university as well, but we wanted to branch out and do other things instead of relying on each other, we wanted to build new connections and explore outside of our friend group. However, I saw my classmates had their community–whether it was an RSO or a sorority and fraternity, they had their people. Before coming to the U. of I, I heard how open and welcoming the college was, but I didn't find that to be the case. Everyone still had their cliques, they still excluded other students who weren’t part of the same organizations or simply because they didn’t fit their standards.

It wasn’t until my second semester that I started to see a drastic change in my environment. I started to get more involved when RSOs started recruiting for the spring semester. I specifically looked for Latino organizations to be in a community I’ve known my entire life. One RSO that spoke to me was ALPFA, Association of Latino Professionals for America. They not only specialize in working and improving one’s professional skills but they also make sure to incorporate the members’ cultures within the organization, making everyone feel welcome.

As I get more comfortable with the U. of I., I’ve realized that not only is it important to find a group of people you’re comfortable with who share your culture, but it’s also important to branch out and learn new things. I’m a strong believer in stepping outside of my comfort zone but also having an anchor that pulls me back to a safe space whenever I get scared. The U. of I. offers so many great opportunities both within and outside of your hobbies. College is a great time to meet new people and try new things, but it’s also okay to hang onto things that you’re familiar with.

Joselyn Rodriguez is a sophomore majoring in Communications.