Diary 2: My Journey Through UNIOM 2024

On Saturday, September 14, 2024, I participated in the UNIOM 2024 activities, an orientation event for new students at Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA). This event brought together all new students from the Mathematics, Mathematics Education, and Actuarial Science departments. As a first-year student majoring in Mathematics, I was very excited about the day ahead. Even though the event started later in the morning, I decided to wake up early at around 4:00 AM to prepare everything I needed.

That morning felt a little different, the air was cooler and the atmosphere more serene. I immediately double-checked all the items I had prepared the night before, such as the designated dress code, ID card, and various other supplies required for the UNIOM event. In addition to preparing physically, I also took some time to calm myself mentally, knowing that the day would be long and challenging.

By around 6:30 AM, I was already sitting in front of my phone, ready to join the event, which was held online through Zoom. The event opened with speeches from the lecturers and organizers, providing us with an introduction to campus life, the various rules, and opportunities available during our time at UNESA. Although it was held online, the atmosphere was still lively due to the active interactions between the new students and the organizers. However, as time passed, I began to feel hungry, and since there was no time to cook, I resorted to eating raw instant noodles just to fill my stomach. I knew it wasn’t a healthy choice, but the situation forced me to make a quick decision so I could stay focused on the event.

The UNIOM activities continued until around 1:00 PM, and though it was quite exhausting, I felt satisfied with everything I had learned, including how to adapt to the more independent and dynamic university life. After the event ended, I planned the rest of the day with a friend who visited my dorm. Before continuing with our activities, I took the opportunity to shower and change into more casual clothes, as I hadn’t had the chance to do so since the morning.

After freshening up, we both left the dorm to take care of a few errands. Our first stop was the ATM to withdraw some cash that I needed for the day’s activities. After finishing at the ATM, we decided to have lunch at the UNESA campus food court. The atmosphere there was very comfortable, and the food options were quite diverse. We chose a seat in front of the C9 building, in a cool, shaded area, to enjoy our meal and chat about various things, including our experiences during the UNIOM event. It wasn’t just a casual lunch; we also used the time to finish up some UNIOM assignments that needed to be submitted soon.

Time passed quickly, and before we knew it, evening was approaching. After completing our tasks, we decided to head back to the dorm around 6:00 PM. Feeling too tired to walk, we ordered a Gocar to return home. Upon arriving at the dorm, though exhausted, we continued our light-hearted conversation, sharing stories about the event and our hopes as new students. The discussion was relaxed yet meaningful, strengthening the bond between us.

Before long, the clock struck 10:00 PM. We decided to rest and sleep at my dorm. The day ended with a sense of pleasant exhaustion. It had been a long day filled with various meaningful activities and interactions, from participating in the UNIOM event, which gave me deeper insights into campus life, to spending quality time with new friends, making the day feel more special. This event provided many valuable experiences that not only helped me adapt to university life but also strengthened the social connections with those around me.

(By: Aulia Nurul Farikha)