Every day, as I am walking around campus, I can't help but take in how incredibly fortunate and blessed I am to attend such a wonderful university. As a senior in high school, I was ecstatic when I found out that I got into the school of my dreams. Now that I am here, I have realized that I couldn't see myself going anywhere else and loving it as much as I love TCU. Even the small things, like the beautifully planted flowers, make me so happy to be able to go to a school like this.
With Thanksgiving being in the month of November, I made it a goal of mine to take a few minutes out of every day to just stop and take a moment to be thankful. It is so easy to get caught up in the stresses of life and not realize how many wonderful blessings you have. Especially as a freshman, being away from home for the first time and all of the adjustments, it is easy to fall into the trap of negativity and the same mundane daily routine. I have made it my goal to wake up with a grateful heart and instead of focusing on how stressed and homesick I am, and truly embrace how blessed I am to have all the opportunities and people in my life that I do.
TCU is the perfect "home away from home" for so many reasons, and although the list could go on and on, these are five things that I am thankful for here at TCU.
1. You always run into someone you know when you are walking somewhere.
TCU is such a close-knit school, and everyone genuinely cares for one another. It feels like a big, happy 10,000 person family. Because it is a smaller school, it is so easy to make connections and form close bonds with the people you meet. It is comforting to know that when you are walking to or from somewhere, you'll probably run into a friend who greets you with a smile and a hug.
2. The professors want to get to know you and want you to be successful.
At TCU, you are not just a number to your professors. Even in my bigger classes (100 or so people) my professors still know my name and ask how I am doing when I walk in their room each day. They truly care about you as a person and want you to do well. I know that I could show up to their office hours to get help whenever I am struggling, or even show up to say hi.
3. There is always something fun going on in the commons.
From smores-making to petting zoos to NEEDTOBREATHE and Hunter Hayes performing on campus, it is needless to say that TCU spoils us. If you are tired of studying and are looking for something fun to do, chances are, if you walk to the commons, there will be free food, puppies to play with, or a giant bouncy house to jump around in.
4. Everything is within a 10 to 15 minute walking distance.
Need to get to class? Or to the stadium for the football game? Or even to Kroger or Pizza Snob for food? Well, thankfully, just about everything you could ever need or want is within 10 minutes or so from where ever you are on campus. Everything is so easy to get to and convenient if you are having a busy day. It is also nice to be able to get some exercise every day!
5. Cindy from the BLUU.
If you have ever gotten to meet Cindy, who swipes our IDs at the dining hall, she is the most amazing human being ever. There is not a day that I've seen her without a smile on her face. She never fails to make my day whenever I get to see her and talk to her. She does her job so joyfully and she makes me want to be a better person.
Every single other person who works for TCU is just as awesome, and they serve and love us so well. I am beyond thankful for every cook who's filled my tummy, custodian who has kept our campus so beautiful, and every shuttle driver who has driven me places.
