The summer before college, I was absolutely buzzing to get away from my small town in central Missouri and move to the amazing city of Phoenix, Arizona where I planned to attend Grand Canyon University. I couldn't stop watching Youtube videos about college and buying all my cute dorm decor. It was a day I had been looking forward to, since like forever. However, all of my best friends from home were going to local colleges and I was really the only one who wasn't, let alone the only one going all the way across the country. However, my decision to join the GCU Odyssey community was a very spontaneous decision I made over the summer, one that I thought would just be a fun extracurricular. Yet, here I am, 1 month into being a college freshman, and I can say it was the best decision I could've made.

When I joined the Odyssey community in July of this year, everyone was so incredibly welcoming, just through our GroupMe conversations alone! I remember just feeling so welcomed and wanted, it was really nice to know that I had joined something that people were so passionate to be there. Initially, I joined, obviously for the writing, but also to have a chance to meet new people. I have never had the best of luck becoming friends with a lot of girls, which is what our community pretty much consists of, yet these girls seemed sweet and we actually had a lot of common interests!

Upon arriving at college, I soon realized, that I truly knew nobody. Aside from my roommates and suitemates, I had a hard time making friends. I joined other clubs like the Black Student Union and reached out to familiar faces from Instagram, but I really didn't feel like I fit in here on the West Coast. I will never forget one of the first nights of Welcome Week, crying myself to sleep, just wishing to go home. However, I decided to reach out and attend a campus event with a few people from the Odyssey and it was a lot of fun!

So, as a tribute to joining this amazing community, I decided to say a thank you to some people who really helped me grow into my shell at GCU.

1. Ally Richmond

Ally Richmond

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmtm7Yyj2N9/?taken-by=grandcanyon.odyssey

Ally is a sweet, smiling junior at GCU who is sadly, graduating this year. She was in the group that went out with me the first night and I instantly really enjoyed hanging out with her! Once classes started, everyone's schedules got a little busier but Ally and I actually got to hang out a little more. We ended up bonding over chocolate chips cookies and the tragic ending of "How I Met Your Mother." As someone who didn't have a lot of friends, Ally was a good one to make.

2. Deborah Killam 

Deborah Killam

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhAbBCBDJQUYvj0XfDl8RBTJ5puB3nnJXCIBVs0/?taken-by=deborahekillam

Funny thing about Deborah, she is hands down one of the coolest people you will ever meet. I actually didn't meet Deborah through the Odyssey because she is my RA this year! It ended up being a cool coincidence that she writes for Odyssey too. So, since she lives just a few doors down from me, I see her a lot. I know that whenever I see her around, I'm going to either be a) be laughing, b) be eating, or c) be talking about the Bachelor. Either way, it's a good time!

3. Victoria Nay 

Victoria Nay

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhxfP2Bn6Bm/?taken-by=v_evangelynn

Victoria actually happened to be my route of transportation for church on Sunday! Being a freshman, I am car-less this year, yet I really wanted to get involved with a church in the Phoenix area. So, I reached out to our Odyssey group chat and asked for a possible ride on Sunday. Little would I know, Victoria would reply. She ended up being so welcoming and invited me to New City Church in downtown Phoenix. It was so nice to find someone who was warmhearted and loved Jesus and Dutch Bros as much as I do!

And there are plenty more incredible people in my Odyssey community, but these are just some amazing examples! Overall, GCU Odyssey has been such an amazing experience. As of now, I do have friends outside of Odyssey who are equally amazing, but I can never thank this amazing community enough for accepting and including me when no one else did.