Finding My Balance: Lessons from the First Semester
Hi everyone—it’s Thomas!
If you’ve been following our posts, you might remember that Craig and I just started our freshman year at WashU in the last post. We shared our first impressions back then, but this time, I want to give you a snapshot of what it actually feels like to live it day by day.
🌟 The Pace Shock
I knew college would be challenging, but I didn’t expect the pace to be this fast.
I’m taking five classes this semester—most students take four—and since my focus area is STEM, that means I’m also juggling labs, discussion sessions, and endless problem sets. I thought my high school prepared me well, but college-level physics and math are on a whole different level.
What makes it tough isn’t just the amount of material—it’s how deeply we’re expected to understand it. Memorizing formulas isn’t enough. Every problem comes with a twist, and I need to apply the concept, not just recall it. That’s been the biggest adjustment so far.
🌟 Learning How to Learn
One of my biggest challenges right now is figuring out how to study effectively.
It’s no longer about how long I study—it’s about how I use that time. I’ve realized that my dorm room automatically puts me in “relax mode,” so I’ve started spending most evenings in the library. Thankfully, it’s open until midnight, and the atmosphere there really helps me focus.
So far, I’ve studied in two of the campus libraries, and I really liked both. Each has its own personality—one calm and quiet, the other buzzing with group energy. I imagine the others have their own feel too, and I can’t wait to explore them. My goal for the semester is to master efficient study habits—learning smarter, not just harder.
🌟 A Reality Check in Chemical Engineering
One funny (and slightly scary) moment happened in my Chemical Engineering class. Our professor took a quick survey asking how many hours we spend studying just for this class outside of lectures. The average came out to about ten hours per week—but a few students reported spending eighteen to twenty!
The professor looked at the graph showing our study hours and said with a smile, “Those who study twenty hours a week for this class, please come see me after class—we need to talk.” I couldn’t tell if he was joking or genuinely concerned for their health! Either way, it was reassuring to know I wasn’t alone in feeling the workload. Apparently, my “average” ten hours is truly average.
🌟 Looking Ahead
This semester has been humbling. I joined the university’s soccer club, but I haven’t had much time to practice. My brother keeps teasing me for taking too many random classes—and he’s probably right. Craig’s schedule is a lot more focused: three courses he already knows well from high school and one in his biomedical major. I, on the other hand, wanted to try everything—business, computer science, and engineering.
Even if I was overly ambitious, I’ve decided to commit fully to this semester and come out stronger—and maybe a bit wiser—by the end of it. Next semester, I’ll aim for a better balance.
✨ Coming Up Next
We won’t be posting on November 15 due to our busy coursework, but we’re planning to conduct a new interview over Thanksgiving break and share it in December. We’re hoping to bring you a fresh perspective from a STEM professional—so stay tuned!
Thanks for reading, and wish us luck as we power through midterms!
Love,
Thomas
🚀 Update from Thomas & Craig (Dec. 1, 2025)
We originally planned to post a new interview in December, but our coursework, finals, and project deadlines have been much heavier than we expected. Because of that, we won’t be able to publish a new post until after the winter break.
Thank you so much for understanding — we hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!
Thomas & Craig
