On the date July 17, 2015, I was at my one-day orientation for Misericordia University. We were split into groups that we would spend the day with. There was this one girl in my group for icebreakers. She had short reddish brown hair. I kept sitting by her and making small talk (she didn’t want to talk, I could tell). Then at the end of the orientation, while we were all sitting in the theater, I went up to this girl who was with her father. I looked at her and said “Hi, I’m Marissa and I don’t really want a crazy roommate so I was wondering if you would want to be my roommate?” I could tell that she was really freaked out. Luckily for me, she said (a very unsure) yes! We exchanged numbers and kept in contact that summer.
On July 17, 2015, I met Emylee Steber and I couldn’t be happier to have met her. We were both in the bridge program, so we got to move in a week earlier and make lots of friends together. A boy named Gerard was one of our first friends, he was always in our room just hanging out with us. It was nice to be at school, but not have the stress of school yet. When school started Emylee, Gerard and I all became closer, and even added another guy named Mike into our friend group. We would always hang out in our room with the door open, Mike sitting at Emylee's desk and Gerard Sitting either at mine or on my chair in the doorway. So far, college was going great. I didn’t think I was going to make friends so quick and easy, but I’m glad I did!
Another funny story is about how we met our RA Lex. Emylee and I had decided we were going to shower, but we didn’t know if it would be okay to leave the bathroom in a towel (this was our first official night as college students), and so we went to our RA. We asked her if she thought it acceptable to walk down the hall in a towel, and that's was how we became friends with our RA.
There was also Eric (the other RA on our floor). Eric was, well, Eric. Both of the RA’s were great people that Emylee and I became friends with them fast.
College is as fun as you make it. My advice to first-year students is to make the most of it. You don’t have to be friends with everyone, but once you have a few friends, keep them close. Emylee and I have great friends. How many people can say they had two friends (and a recruit) drive two hours to pick them up to take them two hours back? We can. College is going to be easy for some people and harder for others, but having a select amount of close friends make college much easier.
Dear Emylee,
I know we were both very nervous to room together, but I wouldn’t change it. I’m sorry to be so weird and just ask you (stranger at the time) to live with me. You are selfless, and caring, funny, smart, and a great friend. You have taken care of me when I was sick and held me when I have cried. You are always there when I need you, so for that, I am thankful for your friendship. I love you. You are, and always will be my best friend. Happy one year of friendship!
To all my/our friends not mentioned, you're not forgotten, and thank you for helping me/us make my first year of college a good one. Love you all.
