Three things I learned during my first month at Minerva

As someone who has studied, lived in, and traveled to multiple countries before, I ended up in the perfect place - Minerva University combines my goal of academic excellence with the desire for deep and meaningful engagement with our world. Managing Minerva, indeed, is an intense and challenging journey. However, one thing is certain: I can say that I successfully survived my first month at Minerva, so I thought I would share three things that I learned throughout this short period.

‍

1. Carving out time for myself is crucial. 

In the past month, the amount of time spent socializing and in front of my computer felt overwhelming at times. Therefore, me-time became a vital part of my weekly schedule, which I squeezed in between the various Minerva activities. Some self-care habits that have worked for me include meditating for a few minutes before falling asleep, going to the gym for an hour before classes, or even picking up coffee on the way to the grocery store.

‍‍

2. Growth is messy and uncomfortable. 

Growth is supposed to be full of struggles, confusion, and, quite frankly - even tears sometimes. But if it doesn’t feel uncomfortable, are you even learning? Programming, for example, was (and sometimes still is) a massive struggle of mine. However, with lots of practice and energy invested, I got significantly better at it. Not only did I make good use of the programming summer resources, but I have also been participating in the weekly Structured Study Sessions. Since Minerva has programming in the curriculum, it was also helpful to go to office hours with our peer tutor or professor.

‍

3. I don’t have to do it all. 

In San Francisco, it is easy to feel like you are sailing the sea of opportunities. Events, workshops, competitions, and festivals are always happening around you: from hackathons like Cal Hacks to Tom Odell and Maneskin concerts to Minerva-organized city experiences – there is something for everyone in San Francisco. While I definitely encourage you to enjoy most of what San Francisco has to offer, it is crucial to set some limits before burning out. Realizing that I do not have to do it all (no one does it all) has been a valuable learning experience.

‍

If you were inspired by Ani's story and are seeking a college experience that will teach you valuable pragmatic skills that will enable you to change the world, start your Minerva application today.