Bucknell’s campus is once again bustling with life as the first weeks come to a close. First years are finally beginning to figure out where their classes are, and returning students are easing back into the balance that college life necessitates.

Chloe Troy ’25, a MIDe major, recently returned from her semester abroad in Barcelona, Spain. As a senior, Troy is facing a mix of emotions as her first week of classes comes to an end. “Coming back to Bucknell is very nostalgic and brings back a lot of memories, but at the same time, so much has changed since last December,” She jokes. “The only culture shock I’ve experienced since coming back is being a senior.”

Ava Stallmeyer ’26, an accounting major and member of the Bucknell swimming and diving team also shared her perspective on the first week of classes. 

“It’s a lot of emotions having to readjust to college life. I have 20 hours of practice a week, I’m not getting as much sleep because I’m with my friends all the time and I’m leaving my family behind again.” Despite the stress and her busy schedule, she’s happy to be back at school. “I do love it here!” Stallmeyer explains, “Syllabus week can be super overwhelming to see all of the work for the semester you will have to complete. As a junior now, we aren’t really spending time reintroducing topics. Instead, we are just jumping right back into things.”

The first week of classes also means the start of campus jobs for many students. Kaelyn Jasina ’26, a psychology and creative writing double major, started a new job in admissions last week. With the many different responsibilities Bucknell students have, dealing with the inevitable stress is so important. “My first two years here, I did not think about myself at all,” Jasina recalls. “Being social and getting my roots here was the top priority. In that process, I forgot that taking care of myself was just as important.” Jasina goes on to say, “Last night I sat and journaled and was able to feel really calm and at peace. Putting things into a meta perspective and just looking at the bigger picture can be so helpful.”