My name is Annabel Rupp, and I am from a tiny town called Elma, just outside of Buffalo. Growing up in a town with less than 12,000 people was an interesting experience. Almost anywhere I went, whether it be the grocery store, gas station, or out to dinner, I was guaranteed to run into someone I knew. As one can imagine, the transition from the small town of Elma to SUNY Geneseo was the biggest in my life. Knowing very few people is a nerve-wracking yet exciting experience, knowing that some of these strangers may soon become my closest friends.
I live with my parents, two older sisters and one younger, and our two dogs, Morty and Bear. Growing up, I always had a dog, so they have played a substantial role as a friend and a lesson in responsibility. Most of my hobbies are arts and crafts, including knitting, crocheting, and sewing; however, I also enjoy running. This sport has been a substantial part of shaping who I am today, for, through it, I have met many close friends, as well as learned important lessons in perseverance and setting goals.
I am currently a first-year student majoring in biology at Geneseo. My first couple of weeks here have been stressful, exciting, and overwhelming all at the same time. Living away from my parents, sisters, and dogs has been an enormous adjustment, as has to transfer from the style of high school classes to college classes. Although this is an uncomfortable transition, I have enjoyed meeting many new people and have gotten much closer with my roommates, as well as neighbors in my residence hall. The familiarity has helped me adjust to life at Geneseo and is also a major reason for my choice of this school. My oldest sister graduated from Geneseo in 2018, and my family has a cabin about thirty minutes away from campus. As one can imagine, many trips to main street were made, whether it be to the bakery or the sub shop. These features made me feel much more comfortable with this enormous transition.
I have made many adjustments to my schedule and am not entirely sure how I feel about it now; however, my professors seem like they will help me if I need it. I am taking many higher-level classes, including calculus, chemistry, biology, and chemistry lab. So far, the most difficult seems to be calculus; however, I think the math learning center will be the key to my success. The idea of having an SI or a TA is exceptionally comforting, knowing there are review sessions outside of class with someone experienced in the subject. My expectations for this class include improving my writing skills, especially transitions and elaborating on topics. Along with these aspects, I am excited to learn more about PTSD and its effects on veterans in my INTD 105 writing class. This information will be especially helpful in communicating with veterans in my family and their experiences. As for readings in this class related to my experiences, I haven’t come across one yet; however, I hope to in the future.
Overall, my adjustment to life at Geneseo has been frightening yet promising. My roommates and I are becoming closer by the day, and I am beginning to develop better study habits to manage my classes more efficiently. I hope to become more comfortable with class instruction and professors’ teaching styles. I look forward to meeting more people in my classes and throughout my residence hall. I am anxious yet excited to continue this semester and see where it leads me.