College has been a roller coaster ride since the first day I stepped on campus for freshman orientation.

Ball State has brought me the greatest people in my life and memories that I will never forget for as long as I live. But as I pack up the truck to drive to Muncie, Indiana one final time I cannot help but reminisce about my years. My freshman year was quite the opposite than I had anticipated. I came into Ball State not as a freshman but actually a sophomore with my amount of credits I had. Not only was I in a new environment by myself for the first time, but I was also in classes with upperclassmen. My first year brought so many friends and five of whom I am moving into a house with this week. Playing basketball was my go to during my first year to deal with stress but mainly because I was a former high school athlete who missed the competitive nature of sports. At the Rec Center I honed in on my sharpshooting skills and continually teamed up with the same group of guys and we eventually became close friends. Playing sports was always a stress relief for me because it just allowed me to focus on the sport and the game at hand and not the outside world, and my buddies allow me to do that.

My second year was a bit of a different one I was dealing with all new situations with even more advanced classes but I still had my same group of friends and I even made new ones. My second year was the year that I grew as a person and a student and I realized who I wanted to grow into. My second year of school also brought more stress than I would like to admit and so much that friends and basketball could not help subside that amount of stress. But as I made countless late night McDonald's runs with my best friends and blared the music throughout the town I knew that I was dealing with things that were going to help me transform into the man I need to be.

As I enter into my final year of school I am thrown into a whole new list of expectations and challenges I will face. I graduate this December 2018 with a degree in Finance and I am living in a house with seven guys including myself. I cannot be more excited for this year as I will be around my friend for one last ride. I know that when I wake up on a Monday morning and my friends are coming in and out of the house rushing for class that I get to relax because I have no class Monday or Friday this semester.

My biggest piece of advice for all incoming freshman or transfers is to relax and try new things that you previously might not have. I have experienced so many great things and have countless memories of going outside of my traditional shell. High school taught me a lot about life but college allowed me to experience life.