My Journey
Hi, I’m Shevi!
My name is Sheviani Eka Putri, and I am a student of the English Diploma Program at Universitas Jenderal Soedirman. I come from Wonogiri, but now I live in Purwokerto for my studies.
Moving away from home and starting college in a new city has been one of the biggest experiences in my life so far. There have been happy moments, challenges, homesickness, new friendships, and many lessons that have helped me grow.
So, here is a little story about my journey in college.
A New Chapter Begins
Sometimes, the biggest changes in our lives begin with a small decision.
For me, it started when I decided to leave my hometown, Wonogiri, and continue my studies in Purwokerto at Universitas Jenderal Soedirman. It might not sound like a very big distance to some people, but for me, it was a completely new experience. I had never lived far away from home before, so the thought of leaving my family and starting a new life in another city made me feel nervous.
Before college started, I had many doubts. I often wondered, “Can I really do this?” I was afraid that I would not be able to adapt, that I would feel lonely, or that I would not be strong enough to live independently. I was used to having my family close to me, and suddenly, I had to learn how to take care of myself and make decisions on my own.
At first, I did not know what my college journey would look like. I only knew that I was going to start a new chapter of my life. I had no idea that this journey would teach me so many things about independence, friendship, responsibility, and even myself.
Meeting New People
When I first started college, everything felt unfamiliar. A new campus, new classes, new lectures, and of course, new people.
Slowly, I started meeting new friends. Some of them were people I met in class, while others came into my life through different activities on campus. At first, we were just strangers who happened to study in the same place. But as time passed, we started talking, spending time together, helping each other with assignments, and sharing random stories.
Having good friends made a huge difference in my college life. They made the unfamiliar environment feel more comfortable. There were many simple moments that became memorable, such as eating together after class, going somewhere just to hang out, talking about random things, or laughing about things that were not even that funny.
Those moments may seem small, but they became some of the things that made me enjoy being away from home.
Learning to Deal with Homesickness
Of course, living away from home was not always easy.
There were times when I felt sad and missed my family. Sometimes, I just wanted to go home to Wonogiri, especially when I was tired, stressed, or had a difficult day. I missed the feeling of being at home and being around the people I was familiar with.
However, whenever I felt that way, my friends were there. Spending time with them helped me feel better. We could hang out, talk, eat together, or simply spend time doing nothing. Somehow, those simple things could make a bad day feel a little better.
One of the things I usually do when I miss home, especially when I miss my mom’s cooking, is cook for myself at my boarding house. It may not taste exactly like my mom’s cooking, but somehow, cooking familiar food makes me feel a little closer to home.
I always have my own ways of cheering myself up and getting my good mood.
My First Experience in Organization
Besides studying, I also wanted to try something new. I did not want my college life to be only about attending classes and completing assignments. I wanted to meet more people, gain new experiences, and develop myself.
In my first semester, I joined a committee for Harmonisasi. It was one of my first experiences working in a campus event. I also joined an internship at E-Ploration, the Student Association of the English Diploma Program.
At first, I was a little nervous because everything was new to me. I had to communicate with people, work in a team, and complete responsibilities that I had never experienced before. However, those experiences helped me become more confident and taught me how an organization works.
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I realized that being a college student is not only about learning inside the classroom. Sometimes, we learn much more from the experiences we have outside it.
Becoming Part of E-Ploration
In my second semester, I decided to take another step. I applied to become a staff member of E-Ploration, the Student Association of the English Diploma Program, and thankfully, I was accepted into the Finance Department of the Social Community Department.
Being part of the organization gave me many new experiences. I became involved in different programs and activities, such as Eplofest, Anagather, and other programs from the department.
Each activity came with its own challenges. There were meetings, preparations, deadlines, teamwork, and responsibilities that had to be completed. Sometimes, it could be tiring, but it was also exciting because I got to experience things that I probably would not have experienced if I had only focused on my classes.
Through these activities, I learned how to communicate with different people, work as a team, take responsibility, and solve problems when things did not go as planned.
Finding Balance
One of the biggest challenges I have faced during college is learning how to manage my time.
Being a student while also being active in an organization means that I cannot focus on only one thing. I have classes, assignments, organization responsibilities, meetings, and sometimes several deadlines at the same time.
There were moments when I felt overwhelmed. Sometimes, I had to finish an assignment while also thinking about an upcoming organizational activity. It was not always easy to keep everything balanced.
Eventually, I learned that managing my time is not about making every minute of my day productive. It is also about knowing when I need to work and when I need to take a break.
I started trying to organize my schedule and prioritize the things that needed to be done first. At the same time, I also made time to hang out with my friends. We would eat together, go somewhere, talk, laugh, or simply spend time together after a busy day.
For me, those moments are important because they help me recharge. College can be stressful, so having time to relax and enjoy myself helps me avoid feeling too overwhelmed.
What College Has Taught Me
Looking back, I realize that college has changed me in many ways.
When I first came to Purwokerto, I was not sure whether I could survive living far away from home. I doubted myself and worried about many things. But now, I can look back and say that I actually did it.
I learned how to be more independent. I learned how to meet new people and build friendships. I learned how to work with a team, take responsibility, manage my time, and deal with problems on my own.
Most importantly, I learned that sometimes we are stronger than we think.
The person who once wondered whether she could survive far away from home is now already in her third semester, continuing her journey and facing new experiences along the way.
This Is Only the Beginning
I know that my journey is still far from over.
I am currently in my third semester, which means there are still many things I have to experience, many challenges I have to face, and many lessons I have yet to learn. There may be more stressful days, more deadlines, more organizational responsibilities, and maybe more moments when I miss home.
But this time, I am not as afraid as I was in the beginning.
I know that I can get through difficult days. I know that I have people around me who support me. And most importantly, I know that I have already come this far.
I hope I can stay strong and keep going until the end. I hope I can finish my studies, make my family proud, and create many more meaningful memories along the way.
Maybe one day, when I finally graduate, I will look back at this chapter of my life and realize how much I have grown.
For now, I am still in the middle of the journey.
Still learning.
Still growing.
Still trying.
And this is my journey in college.
Thank you for taking the time to read a little part of my college journey. This story is still being written, and I hope there will be many more experiences, lessons, and memories along the way.
Thank you for being part of my story! ♡
