I remember walking onto campus on move-in day and feeling excited but sad. I was excited for the journey ahead of me but sad that I had to grow up and be on my own. I’ve always appreciated living with my parents and all that they do for me. I’m very aware of the sacrifices they have made for me and am very thankful for them. I had to learn how to be without the constant comfort of my family.

After I got all moved in and there was nothing left of the day, I remember laying in my bed alone, crying. I knew no one and I didn’t know how to change that without putting myself in an awkward situation. Fortunately, after a few days, I learned that it is almost inevitable to get yourself into a slightly uncomfortable situation to make the best of friends. The girls I’m friends with now are the same girls that intimidated me more than I ever have been before. I would walk past them and feel inferior. I took one leap to go sit with them for thirty minutes and 3 months later, I spend almost every day with them.

College isn’t all about the relationships you make. Of course, there is the school work, which if I might add is not awful all the time. Yes, there are some courses that have pushed my limits and I thought I wouldn’t make it through, but not every class is like that. I had to learn to have confidence in my intelligence and courage to persevere. The day I decided that I was smart enough to do this was the day my grades started to raise. Don’t get me wrong, I still struggle and I spend the majority of my time studying, but it’s not nearly as taxing as it was when I didn’t believe in myself.

Overall, the worst thing about college that I have found so far is the limited access to good, healthy food. I can’t wait until I have enough money and the resources to be able to cook myself a good meal without having to rely on a cafeteria who is required to cook in bulk.

On the positive side of things, the best thing about college that I have found so far would be the professors. It is so refreshing to finally having almost all of the people who are teaching and influencing you to actually care about what they are doing. Throughout my high school career I came across only a handful of teachers who were passionate about what they were doing and because the vast majority weren’t, my education lacked. Now I am in an environment where learning is everything and my mind can finally be stimulated and challenged in a way it was always meant to.

I am thankful for the opportunity to attend college, especially one as great as Wingate University.