Freshman year of college is something most high school kids can’t wait for. They spend years deciding what college they’ll go to and what they’ll major in. Or if they’re anything like me, they put it off, wait until the last minute and hope that everything falls into place. I applied to five different schools, with different majors at every school (I obviously knew what I was doing with my life). The acceptance letters came in and I still had no idea where I wanted to go or what I wanted to major in.

The place I felt most at home was Saint Francis University, a small catholic university in Loretto, Pennsylvania. The only problem with that was, I applied with a different major than I determined I wanted to study. I worked with my admissions counselor and I got into the Physician’s Assistant program. Because of this, I decided to go to Saint Francis University, despite my sister going there and not wanting to spend another four years getting compared to her (it happens all the time still). Although most people still can’t tell my sister and me apart, despite us being two years apart, there are so many reasons I love going to a small university.

There is always a familiar face wherever you go. Beginning at orientation, we were encouraged to get to know the names of as many people as possible. We were pushed out of our comfort zone, mixed with new faces and got to know people we otherwise wouldn’t. Knowing that you won’t go anywhere without seeing a familiar face might be annoying to some, but I see it as one of the best parts of going to a small university. You never have to be afraid of going to an event and knowing no one there.

Within these familiar faces are the people I now call my best friends. I’m so lucky for the friends that became practically my family. I had a hard time when it came to leaving for summer, I missed my friends the day after we all left campus. The people I am lucky enough to call my friends, I wouldn’t have otherwise known if it wasn’t for Saint Francis University.

Campus feels like home. With there being a few buildings I spent a majority of my time in, I became very comfortable on campus and was able to open up and become myself. Our campus is absolutely beautiful (even when there’s two feet of snow). I would stay at campus all year if I could. Most of the time, it feels more like home than home does. I began going home every other weekend, for at least a day but, by the end of the year, I couldn’t even remember the last time I went home or talked to my parents unless I had to.

It has given me so many opportunities in so little time. I have been given the opportunity to advance my education, and to become the person I have always wished become. I have the opportunity to be A Red Flash Majorette, continuing a sport that I love. Also, to be a sister of Phi Lambda Psi, a group of beautiful and inspiring women. As a Physician’s Assistant Major, it has given me the opportunity to work with and help those who need it. I have been able to be independent, see what really matters and start to grow mentally. I can only imagine how this small catholic university will continue to impact my life for the next four years and for the rest of my life.