It’s been about a month since the first day of classes at MIT, and Leya E. ’30 reflects on her experiences so far. Despite the challenges and workload, she finds comfort in the fact that every week brings an end and a chance to relax during the weekend. Leya emphasizes that making mistakes is part of the learning process, quoting Ms. Frizzle: “Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!”

One of her earliest missteps involved Dunkin Donuts. Leya, who isn’t a morning person, often stops at Dunkin before class for an energy drink. However, the place was often packed, leading her to wait in line for too long and sometimes miss her class. She advises ordering ahead to ensure timely service.

A more embarrassing moment occurred when she was photographed by her fellow bloggers, a common practice among freshmen. Leya, not paying attention, was caught in an unflattering angle. She concludes that being more aware of her surroundings is a lesson learned.

Another mistake involved leaving a class early and walking into the wrong one. This happened when Leya mistakenly thought her lecture had ended earlier than it actually did, leading her to enter the wrong recitation. Her attempt to correct the mistake was awkward, especially when her backpack spilled on the floor.

Leya also mentions a time when she waved at people she didn’t recognize, a mistake she attributes to her face blindness. She advises learning people’s faces to avoid such embarrassing situations.

A significant error occurred during a HackMIT project. Leya and her team realized their project didn’t work after the judging was over. While they weren’t trying to win, she stresses the importance of checking code multiple times to ensure functionality.

During an Assassin’s Guild game, Leya struggled with making a paper airplane, a task she had never mastered. This led to a humorous yet embarrassing moment when she failed to complete a challenge, despite others’ efforts to teach her.

At the beginning of the semester, Leya auditioned for six acapella groups and received callbacks from none, despite her enthusiasm. She learned that sometimes, trying new things might not yield immediate success, but it’s valuable to have attempted them.

Another mistake involved sitting in office hours for a checkoff without realizing her Wi-Fi was off, causing frustration. She advises exhausting all possible solutions before giving up.

Leya frequently starts her problem sets (psets) the day before they’re due, a habit she acknowledges as problematic. She emphasizes the importance of spreading out work and seeking help rather than working alone.

A particularly embarrassing incident involved double booking herself for the Assassin’s Guild game and a Next Sing rehearsal. Despite her regret, she realized that others didn’t mind her absence, teaching her to communicate better when planning conflicting events.

Lastly, Leya reflects on her tendency to underestimate the interest of others in hanging out with her. She shares that she’s starting to understand that people genuinely enjoy spending time with her, a realization that has boosted her confidence.

Leya concludes by noting that while these mistakes have been embarrassing, they are also opportunities for growth and learning. She looks forward to more experiences and potential mistakes in the future.

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