If you're someone like me who loves being independent and admittedly really enjoys going to school, then you'll understand that the anticipation of college has been present in my life for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I would listen to the stories from my parents and older cousins and their experiences in college and envy the social and academic freedom that college provided them. By the first day of my freshman year of high school, I had already begun making lists of schools (ironically, my first choice from freshman year is the school I ended up attending). As much as I had thought that I was prepared for college, I spent the night before I left sulking amid all my packed bags wondering how I could ever leave the place I had called my home for 18 years.

I don't know what I anticipated as I stepped on to the campus of Villanova last Wednesday as a college freshman. I had already started to miss my home and questioned whether I was truly ready for this next step in my life. I decorated my dorm room in a bit of a daze, wondering if this was actually happening. However, as soon as I got on to main campus and began participating in all of the wonderful orientation activities that were set up for us, I came to the moment that I had dreamed about since I was a little girl. I looked around me at the campus that I had fallen in love with at first sight and was almost brought to tears of joy that I could finally call this place my home. Sure, I would miss my family and friends back home, but I knew that they were only a phone call away. Besides, the homesickness was masked by the overwhelming amount of opportunities ahead of me and amazing new people that I had already met.

My first week wasn't perfect, but it was pretty close. Going through orientation was one of the most exhausting, amazing experiences that I've ever gone through. Despite being active from 8 am to 10 pm every day, I made an awesome new group of friends and have learned about all that the university has to offer. I have become close with my roommates (both literally and figuratively, considering our forced triple room is very tight) and found more similarities with them than I ever anticipated I would, and I couldn't imagine my college experience without them being a part of it. Even after going to all of my classes and knowing I am only at the beginning of my already heavy workload, I find comfort knowing I am surrounded by professors and peers who genuinely want me to succeed in every way that I can. Unlike most people (then again, I'm a bit of a geek), I am looking forward to learning about as much as I can and getting the most out of my classes. In the end, while I have loved every second of my life up to this point and all of the moments that have shaped me into the person I am today, I can honestly say that I am happier than I've ever been.