By Harshitha Kothapalli – Editor-in-Chief

Jonathan Law Class of 2025 graduate Quinn Shane is embracing college life at Clemson University, where she is majoring in Financial Management. 

Shane chose Clemson because of its unique career opportunities and connections, but she also wanted to challenge herself by experiencing something completely different from her hometown.

“I chose Clemson originally because I knew of their strong business school and alumni network available,” Shane said. “I also liked the idea of going far out of state to push myself to try new things I otherwise would not have.”

Since arriving on campus last fall, Shane has enjoyed the opportunities and connections she has found through her new environment. 

“My experience so far has been really great,” Shane said. “I love all the people I’ve met, and there are so many opportunities there I get to take advantage of that I’m grateful for. It has been challenging but so worth it.” 

Adjusting to college life was not easy at first, especially being in a completely unfamiliar place surrounded by so many new faces. However, Shane believes those challenges helped her grow into a more independent and confident person. 

“It was difficult at first to adjust to a new place with no one I was familiar with, but that made me step outside of my comfort zone and definitely grow as a person,” Shane said. “The school is very big, obviously, compared to Law, so it was new being with so many people. I’ve definitely grown more accustomed to the south and what it is like to fully be on my own there.” 

Like many freshmen, Shane quickly learned that balancing academics with a social life is one of the most important skills to develop in college. 

“Balancing academics and social life, I think, was the most challenging thing to learn when at college,” Shane said. “There is no ‘home’ to separate yourself from friends, so learning to set expectations for yourself and stay true to that is important and hard to learn at first, but you will benefit a lot from it.” 

As she reflects on her first year away from home, Shane encourages current high school seniors to be patient with themselves and open to new experiences. 

“I would tell seniors that college is an adjustment, so it won’t feel amazing right away, it takes time,” Shane said. “You make so many friends and experiences that you will only get if you put yourself out there. You have to be open to anything and always say yes! Everyone is new and awkward, so it doesn’t matter; you will find your people.”