This time last year, I was counting down the days until the end of my senior year. Graduation and prom were just around the corner along with my senior trip to Disney and Europe. However, a year later, I would give almost anything to relive those moments. Freshman year of college was extremely hard. I went to seeing my mom and my brother every day to once or twice a week. I also would see my horse two or three times a week and now I'm lucky if I see him once every other week.

But I wouldn't change where I decided to go and I would never change the friends that I made here at Rider University. Next fall, I will be the secretary of the Equestrian Team and to be honest, I have made most of my friendships because of my team. My coaches, captains, and teammates have pushed me to be my best and for the first time in a very long time, I'm starting to believe them. My whole life, I was always a shadow of someone and now I feel like I am holding my own torch and finally showing people that I can do anything that I set my mind to.

Only some of the team is pictured above.

Freshman year was the year where I realized who my real friends are. The real ones are the ones who have believed in me, the ones that pushed me to do better, and the ones that I can go to when I just need to vent. Some of them I made this year and some I have known all throughout high school. My friend Shannon has been that older sister voice that I have always wished for and my two friends Madi and Jesse are the friends that I'm forced to live with them next year because these are my people. I wouldn't trade them for the world and I can't wait to see what life brings us next year living under the same roof. My close friend Sara has been there for me since I started dating my boyfriend and I am so thankful for her because she is someone that I can trust. My family has also given me opportunities to achieve everything that I set my mind to.

My mother has always been the rock of the family and sending her oldest child out into this crazy world that we live in is something that everyone has to do but they don't want to do it. When she moved me in and dropped me off at school, I know it was hard for her because she just dropped me off and is letting me live life on my own. My grandparents are also only a phone call away since they live in Florida during the winter. I talk to them twice a week and they always ask to see how I'm doing. My little brother is someone I look up to (literally). He has grown from this little kid that wasn't even taller than me to this young adult who has so much knowledge and I know he can do great things. He inspires me every day.

Madi, Me, Jesse, and Shannon at Rider's hosted show in March.

Before I came to Rider University, I just started a new relationship and he has pushed me to strive to be my best. He has seen me at my best and he has certainly seen me at my worst. Kevin, I am so sorry for all of the ugly cries you have seen and thank you for always encouraging me to be the best that I can be. Along with Kevin, his family has welcomed me with open arms and I am so thankful that I have them in my life.

I went through a lot of struggles within the past year. Adapting to life without my mom a hallway away from not seeing my horse as much as I liked to, I realized that Rider is finally a home that I can finally call my own. I never realized that I could fit in somewhere so unfamiliar and I couldn't do it with a little help from my friends.