Dear freshman year,
A year ago, I was sitting in my bedroom at home, regretting my decision to go to college all the way in Texas. Terrified, I watched as my last bag was shoved into the car for the airport. I was moving 1,500 miles to a place where I knew no one. As bad as it sounds, I just wanted to turn the car around and go back to high school. I wish that I could have told myself back then that my life was just beginning. I was going on a journey that would turn into the best decision of my life!
Moving day was hectic and intensely draining. The Texas heat beat down on my family as we hauled my life into my tiny dorm room. I came to the sudden realization I was now going to have to share my room and life with another person all year, something that I had never done in my entire life.
Butterflies rumbled my stomach as I boarded the bus to Corral. I was separated from my roommate, the only person who I knew, and I was thrown into meeting new people. Through all of the speeches, cheers, and songs, I had no idea that I would be meeting my best friends. It’s true, it all starts at Corral.
After stepping around the seal in Dallas Hall at Opening Convocation, I was ready to start my life as a college student. By the end of my first day of classes, I was holding a white mountain of syllabi. Even before syllabus week was over, I found a study spot in the library to dig through my piles of work.
On Saturdays, I wore my best white dress and new cowboy boots to Boulevards, supporting our football team no matter the odds. Before I could even memorize my class schedule, my family was visiting for Parents' weekend. From seeing the campus to meeting my friends and professors, my family now understood why I could not stop raving about SMU. When the temperature dropped to 50 degrees, finals week started. I pushed myself to finish the semester with the promise of going home for the holidays. However, spending winter break at home made me realize how much I missed my new Texas home away from home.
Thrilled to return to SMU after winter break, I came back for the spring semester to face the trepidation of Sorority Rush. I lived to tell the tale that I survived the week and made it out alive! When spring classes started, I realized that I had $300 of flex to spend. My second semester nights were filled with multiple late-night Mac’s Place runs. On weekends, I could be found screaming until I lost my voice in Moody Coliseum. Being on ESPN and Fox Sports was definitely a highlight of joining The Mob. I spent my first real spring break without my family and ventured to California with my college friends. At Perunapalooza, I jumped on every inflatable and ate as much fried food as my stomach could take. However, not all of my days were spent having fun. My spring classes were more challenging, now that I was focusing on my majors. I spent the majority of my afternoons at my favorite spot in the library, hovering over my computer screen, trying to write multiple papers simultaneously. Why did I ever complain about DISC and PRW?
Looking back over the past year, I can say that I have cried little and laughed a lot. I have learned to survive solely on Arnold pizza and right-out-of-the-oven Umph cookies. I have lost the ability to gain a full night of sleep. I discovered the penalties of procrastination and the rewards of time management.
In class, I expanded my thoughts. I have debated, discussed, and been proven wrong. I have achieved some great things and have been denied more times than I can count. I studied harder and longer than I did in high school. I never thought that I would experience my eyes burning from reading a textbook for hours on end.
I have found life-long friends who know exactly how to make my day. My best college memories include hanging out with my friends on any given weekend night. My friends know how to make me laugh, even on my worst days. They supported me when I struggled and celebrated with me when I succeeded. They have taught me to be more appreciative of my days here and to not worry about nonsense.
However, along with all of these things, I have learned how to change. I have adapted and thrived in a new and intimidating situation. I know more now than I did a year ago. I have discovered my aspirations and I am working on making them come true. I have dared to pursue a new life without looking back. I now say a bittersweet goodbye as I wheel my suitcases out of my empty dorm room. As I close the door on my freshman year, I know that I could not imagine my new life being any different.
Goodbye freshman year, I hope that sophomore year is just as great.