That Semester Crash Out

That Semester Crash Out 

The following article was contributed to The Learning Curve blog by Asheley LeFors, a CEHD distance student and member of the 2026-27 Student Council.

Have you ever wanted something so much, spent your entire life thinking about what the experience would be like, planned out the different parts to make it happen, and then you do the thing, and it’s… eh? 

This happened to me when I saw Stonehenge in England. In my head, I had built up this ancient, mystical place that has these huge boulders that no one knows how they got where they are. Stories upon stories, fairytales, folklore, and movies all tell tales of their ethereal magical powers and power stance over a misty British countryside. I was so excited to see them and feel their power radiating off them. I expected to feel small, maybe see what remnants of a sacrifice look like after hundreds of years, and be in a place surrounded by magic. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see something not everyone gets to see. Then I was there… in the parking lot, next to a freeway, in the countryside, on a sunny day, looking at rocks. 

The crash out that came as I was walking down the roped path that kept me 150 feet away from the rocks was beyond disappointment. I started questioning my perceptions, my interpretation of history and physics since the fourth grade. How had my imagination taken me so off course? The reality of Stonehenge, in my experience, is that it has been put on this earth to humble us. Magnificence does not equal grandeur. Great things are there, but not always in the form we imagine them to be.   

College = Stonehenge?

My Stonehenge experience is similar to that of settling into the first month of a college semester. So much goes into pre-planning and preparing for this new chapter, like:

• Getting excited for a class you have always wanted to take
• Hoping classes will provide the experiences you want to have
• Wondering what the professors will be like
• Debating whether a class might be too writing-intensive
• Worrying that there may not be enough time to get everything done
• Figuring out if your course load can be balanced with a social life (and if you can still be a nice person at the end of the day!)  

If this is your first semester of college, it’s likely something you have dreamt about, talked about, and wondered about for a very long time. College is supposed to be so exciting and wonderful, like Stonehenge, that it has been played out a hundred times in your head as this amazing experience where the classes are easy, the professor thinks you’re a genius, and you get the good dorm that everyone wants. 

Then reality hits that first day. The syllabus reads like it was written by a German legal team. You confidently raise your hand to answer a question, only for the professor everyone says is amazing to look at you like you have three heads and have just uttered the dumbest answer on the planet. (It wasn’t a dumb answer, I promise!)  

Fast forward to writing your first discussion post during the bus ride to work while wearing last week’s dirty hoodie, because who has time to wash laundry with your schedule? What does “good job” mean? Where is the feedback? What was good? The crash out is real, folks. Reality is humbling. 

If you’re like everyone else reading this blog, you have worked hard to be here. You have worked hard and have been accepted to a UNIVERSITY! You have earned your place here. If reality has humbled you this semester and you are struggling to find your place, know that you are not alone. 

Adjusting Expectations to Reality

The big question is: how do you move forward with your humbled reality? Do you get frustrated and quit? Do you email your professor and ask for feedback? (They like this, by the way!) Maybe your reality is that there really IS too much on your plate. Can something be moved, postponed, or rescheduled? If you’re not sure about your options, do you know who you can ask for help? 

• Professors and Teaching Assistants (TA’s) are great places to start. Let them know your concerns so they can help guide you and share what options are available. Distance students can always email their professors or TA’s or do an online drop-in call during Zoom office hours (check the syllabus for availability and a link). 
• Academic Advisors and mentors are another great resource. Schedule an appointment with your advisor or drop in to your advising office to find out what options you have. They can explain class changes, deadlines, and how those can affect your transcripts and academic goals. If you’re a distance student, give the Academic Office a call to speak to the next available advisor or find your advisor on Hawk Central to schedule an appointment. 

In reality, the experiences we dream about do not always meet our expectations, and disappointment can be complex. Sometimes additional factors can be at play, such as medical or mental health concerns that require extra support. Student Health Services is a confidential, full-service medical clinic with professional staff specializing in medical and psychiatric care for all enrolled UND students.  For distance students, telehealth appointments are offered for some services. Schedule an appointment online or in person to find out which options are best suited to your needs. 

Magnificent experiences are out there waiting for you. They may not be the experiences originally anticipated or planned. Reality has a not-so-nice way of humbling us while giving us opportunities we did not know we needed. The question is, how do you move forward as an humbled servant of reality? Do you tell everyone to go to Stonehenge to form their own opinions, or do you tell them not to bother, as they will just be disappointed? This writer says: Think for yourself and go to Stonehenge. 

About the Author

Asheley LeFors is a native of Fresno, CA, who currently resides in Minot, ND. She is an undergraduate student in Psychology and recently began an accelerated degree program that will see her earn both her BS and MS in Public Health Education.

In her spare time, she loves the outdoors, practicing nature and macro photography, glamping with her husband in North Dakota state parks, and family game nights with her adult children.

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