My first year as a University of Cincinnati student was unique and unexpected. I was a little sad due to the method of study being changed to online since I was preparing myself to move to a new country, get used to a new system of education and involve myself in campus but it all gradually changed as I got to know the professors, my classmates and senior leaders. Everyone was so welcoming and considerate I never felt like I was missing out on college life. Online classes were a little rough at the beginning, keeping track of all the homework, assignments and classes felt quite daunting at the start. Moreover, the fatigue of being in front of a screen for several hours negatively affected productivity. I would often feel myself falling behind schedule, struggling to set up a proper schedule due to being enclosed in my room for almost the entire day. I am really proud of the changes I made to overcome these difficulties. With the help of online advice I managed to set up a work-space in my room which would let me focus on the work at hand without the constant feeling of being at home. I have gained some hard earned insights into my personal time-management and my ability and effectiveness of work. These self discoveries would not have been possible in a regular on campus semester. Now I know my personal limitations and strengths much better, which have helped me become a better student in the process. I was able to end my year with a 3.75 cumulative GPA, which gave me a position on the Dean's list. Being in my home-country this winter break allowed me to explore opportunities near me. I was given an incredible chance to tutor underprivileged kids of my district under an Non Governmental Organization (NGO). I got the opportunity to teach around 35 talented children whose willingness to learn and improve ignited a passion in me. I was reminded of my incredible privileges which I often took for granted. This year also allowed me to explore other subjects I was interested in, I wasn't very positive about completing my Physics Lab classes in an online arrangement, hence my advisor suggested me to explore different classes which were not necessarily related to my degree. The value of education I have gained from these courses can hardly be quantified. I was pleasantly surprised to learn the wide degree of applications subjects such as Psychology, Cultural studies, and History can have. If I was to summarize my year in a sentence, I would quote Boris Pasternak, "Surprise is the greatest gift life can grant us".