August 20th, 2015 I began my high school career at Claremore High School. May 17th, 2019; 1,367 days later, I graduated. Now counting down the days no longer means graduating high school, but moving into the next chapter of my life. I have been an alumni of my high school for over a month now and my thoughts and emotions are starting to kick in.

My initial thoughts consisted of, "I finally get to move out and be on my own for the first time in my life!". My second thought was, "I've never lived anywhere else". Growing up with no siblings and older parents meant no moving between houses for me. I've lived in the same house since the day my parents brought me home after I was born; the same house my grandfather built in the 1980s with his best friend. Not many kids I know have had the opportunity to stay grounded as I have.

All that foundation I've built here will soon shift. The next chapter of my life will be moving to Stillwater in August to join the Oklahoma State University family. I do feel blessed that I know my roommate and have for a while. My biggest fear is I don't know Stillwater like I know Claremore. I know my mind will ease with time but that doesn't make anything less anxiety inducing.

Incoming freshman, I know you can relate to the anxiety and stress. Some of you are traveling further from home than others. Some of you may not be able to go home except for Christmas and the summer. But I also know kids our age have been going through the same thing as us for hundreds of years and they all survived. One thing I have learned about the Stillwater community is they know how to be a family and how to band together as one.

It's a new chapter of our lives. No longer high school students under parental control, no longer just "kids". Push through that anxiety, push through that uncertainty. Life is what you make it, so why not start this new adventure right.