Aaima Ikram

When I had arrived at Stony Brook for the first time, I distinctly remember my mom driving to Roth quad as we looked out the window to see cheerleaders waving at us with their pom-poms. I remember thinking to myself, “I hope this will be fun.” Turns out, it was a little TOO fun. These (almost) 4 years have been the most eventful of my lifetime. Because everyone goes through high school, but it’s your college experience that really shapes you. Everyone tells you, “Oh, it’ll be over before you’ll know it.” But there are some very important things they don’t tell you.

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First of all, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Try new things and get the most out of your experience. By try new things, I mean join a club that really interests you, or build up the courage to answer a question in class or even try to make conversation with the person sitting next to you in class. Find what keeps you active and involved and stick to it. You’ll eventually develop friendships and learn many skills that will help you grow as an individual. Any experience is good experience so just jump straight in and enjoy the ride.

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Be adventurous, but be wise as you embark on your journeys.  This suggestion goes for both academics and social life. Stony Brook’s curriculum is quite interesting in the way that it forces you to take classes that may be completely unrelated to your major, but they might bring you to your calling. They may bring you to rethink your major and your goals, and that’s fine. But always think things through before making a decision. A make sure to do your research and develop a plan. While it's completely fine to explore more options, try to develop an end goal. Envision yourself in ten years and develop a plan to get there. And for some people, that may require more than four years of undergraduate studies, and that’s completely okay. Everyone works at their own pace and it’s completely fine if it takes you a little while longer to figure things out.

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Now stepping aside from academics, also make sure you have a little bit of fun. While school comes first and foremost, give yourself time to relax. It’s okay to leave the North Reading Room to go get ice cream with friends if you’ve been studying for hours and hours. Go to Denny’s and get their milkshakes and $4 endless pancakes. On the weekend, take trips and explore new places with your friends and family. Enjoy the little time you have, because you won’t realize when you went from a doe-eyed freshman to a senior who’s constantly contemplating everything in life. It really does go by too fast.

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Follow your instincts. Lastly, one thing I always like to tell people: listen to your heart, but make sure you consult with Allah on all things. Listen to that little voice inside you because sometimes it really takes you in the right direction. I’ve been in plenty of situations where I’ve listened to my heart, and I don’t regret it at all. Because they have given me memories I will forever cherish and friends I will forever hold on to. And in the end, it’s not about the destination -- it’s more about the journey.