As a returning sophomore at Baylor University, my “back to school” perspective is new and improved. I no longer feel that nauseating excitement as I scramble to find my buildings for class or the shyness to interact with strangers in my classes. I am coming back to Baylor, better than ever.

Last year, I had this perpetual fear of leaving home and journeying into the unknown that was Waco, Texas. I was scared to leave my puppy at home, depart from my family, and leave the city that developed me into the person I had become.

This year, I am on campus wildly early actually, pursuing an opportunity with the organization that I have invested my first year in. I have moved myself into my first apartment, and I am sitting on campus writing this article at complete ease like it is my own living room.

I no longer pace uncomfortably in the halls waiting for my class because I showed up 45 minutes early. As a matter of fact, I have mastered the art of waking up just in time to make it to class in seven minutes.

Professors do not intimidate me anymore, but rather encourage me to better myself as a student. Instead of shying away from speaking to my professors altogether, I now email them with questions and concerns galore (but not in an overbearing way).

Campus is no longer a maze of buildings that all look the same, but rather an area that I know like the back of my hand. Instead of finding my buildings by accident, I can walk there with my eyes closed.

Instead of asking strangers for directions, I can now point incoming students to where they need to be. Quite frankly, I believe I can give quite the educational campus tour.

Rather than signing up for every organization available at Late Night, I now have my select few that I have invested my extracurricular time in (yes, there is extracurricular time in college).

While I might not have everything figured out right now, I have figured out how to survive off of three hours of sleep and venti iced coffees from Starbucks. I have also learned how to do “finals week” if you will, because now it’s no longer “dead week” but “I can’t wait to go home, let’s finish this test already week”.

Before, I had to Google maps my way to HEB, and now my mom asks me to drive her around Waco because I “know the area so well.”

Moral of this story? Everything will find its pace. I recently saw a quote and it said, “Do the scary thing first, and get scared later.” – Lemony Snicket

I have never seen a single quote so accurately encompass “how to college” as that one does. So whether you are a first time student, or a returning veteran, go out there and Sic’em.