I have been blessed enough to be a Eckerd College student. While here at Camp Eckerd, us students are lucky enough to be able to have our pets attend college with us. If you take a walk down Dorm Drive, you will see students walking their dogs and the occasional cat. If you stop by the pet park on campus, you will almost always catch sight an adorable fluffy animal face playing with its companion. There has never been a sweeter sight than a college campus where students want to be in their dorm or outside studying, so long as their fluffy friend comes along.

My sophomore year I decided to bring my dog, Lola, to Eckerd with me and it was the best decision I could have made. She just brightened my college experience, even when it was bright to begin with. There is nothing like coming back from a stressful exam and seeing her waiting for me with excitement, like she has not seen me in days. I can take her to the beach with me to study and she will watch the waves while I attempt to buckle down.

She keeps me company at times that I would otherwise feel alone and makes any space more exciting. When I work at the Pet Life office, Lola ensures that everyone in Student Affairs knows that she has arrived. She will perch herself on the desk and act tough while looking like a lazy cat, and the second people come to say "hi" she rolls over and wants a belly rub.

Sometimes I think that Lola has more friends than I do. She makes friends of all species from cats and rabbits to humans. She will play with anything her size and smaller and try to boss around anything bigger than her. This diva's arrival to Eckerd has definitely made my college experience a different one. Even when she gets sick she manages to steal the show and win some hearts. I never thought that I would have a dorm that became a kitty and dog playroom, but it did because Lola does not take no for an answer when she wants to play.

Here at Eckerd, just like the students, the animals have a variety of personalities and we have many opportunities to see them showcased. Around Halloween, we have a pet costume contest where we have had all species of pets entered. Lola was dressed like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. There was even a dog dressed as a giraffe and a bunny as a vampire.

Lola and many other pets here at Eckerd have Instagram accounts where you can follow their adventures and see them living the #EckerdLife. These pets have lots of personality and do many fun things, so if you are ever in need of a pick me up, look for some Eckerd pets on Insta and you will not be disappointed.