As I'm packing up my dorm room on my last night at Mason, all I can think about is the first time I visited George Mason. I was a senior in high school still unsure of where I wanted to attend college, which scared me to death. I'm the type of person who plans out everything well in advance and likes to know exactly what I'm doing at all times. But there I was, nearing the last semester of my senior year without a clue of where I wanted to go, let alone what I wanted to do when I got there.
I decided to come visit Mason in the fall not really knowing too much about it. But, needless to say, I fell in love with it immediately. Despite the copious amounts of construction everywhere, I still thought the campus was beautiful. Having experienced it now actually living here, fall at Mason is without a doubt my favorite time of year. Not only do the changing and falling leaves make a nice view for walking to class, but the energy of the students is great. Everyone is so happy to be back and see their friends; it's such a great atmosphere. (That is, until midterms hits—then it's back to normal.) After that first visit to Mason, I came back and toured a few times. I fell even more in love with this school, and getting my acceptance letter has got to be one of my best memories.
I remember being so excited for move-in day, but when that day actually came I was extremely nervous. I was scared to leave my hometown, my family, and my friends behind. The first few days were a little rough, but once I got into my daily routine I transitioned extremely well. The first week of classes wasn't nearly as scary as I had anticipated. Before I knew it, I was almost done with my first semester of college. I also decided to go out for formal sorority recruitment, which is one of the best decisions I think I've ever made. I've made the greatest friends and unforgettable memories from joining a sorority. They've been my support system from day one and I know that my college experience would not be the same without them.
Second semester was a little more difficult trying to juggle sorority activities with school, but reflecting back on it now, it taught me a lot. I learned a lot about working under pressure and the importance of putting school work before your social life. College is a time to have fun, but it's not worth jeopardizing your education and the reason you came to college in the first place.
Thinking back on it now, I wouldn't change a single day from this past year. There's been many ups and downs but they all taught me something new and made me a stronger student and person in the end. I can't wait to see where the next three years at Mason take me!
