It's time.

I've finally passed through the gates and earned my rightful spot on a college campus. No more days of driving to high school, parking in the student parking lot, and walking to my dreaded zero-period class with my monotone and pessimistic American Gov teacher. I've rid my life of the greasy school lunch pizza and disgraceful selection of PopTarts at nutrition break. This means I'm finally an adult.

So, I did what any excited college freshman does and I bought all sorts of apparel with my school's name, Oregon, all over it. That was my preparation.

"But wait," I think to myself. "I'm moving states. I'm moving 900 miles away from my home, my parents, my cat Milkshake, everything I've ever known." Most of my high school classmates were staying around Orange County, going to community colleges and state schools well within a day's driving distance. I was a little jealous. Maybe I didn't pick the right school? What if I don't like it? What if the PopTart selection is still a tragedy!?

I spent the summer before Oregon traveling around Europe with a friend and also doing a medical volunteer program in Cuzco, Peru, and then it hit me. It was the week before my flight up to Eugene and I hadn't mentally prepared myself. I hadn't thought about the amount of work I'd have to do for my classes and the major jump up from high school that college would be while I was taking jello shots on the French Riviera. I didn't think about the lifestyle changes and how different everything would be while taking selfies atop the Eiffel Tour. "Oh s**t" was a common thing to hear from me that last week.

The amount of packing was real. Luckily, I already had boxes upon boxes packed and shipped up to Oregon and needed to cram as many clothes that I thought I would need into suitcases.

Move-in day was not what I had expected. I was the first person in the dorm and probably the first one fully settled in. It took me an hour and I wasn't rushing. I like to think my family and I are pretty efficient. I didn't go to any Week of Welcome events (sorry to my group leader) because I didn't see the point. Everything was smooth sailing until my classes started. Syllabus week was a joke and I definitely underestimated everything based on my fuzzy, freshman view of things.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that the first midterms were in week 3...

Over time, I became acclimated to my classes, got to know my professors, and made decent friends that I'm still close with a year later. I learned to read constantly, keep up with the syllabi and the classes because the quarter system goes by faster than you can say GO DUCKS! at Autzen.

I learned to trust myself and feel confident that Oregon was the right place for me. The wilderness, the school spirit, the college town feel, the weather, and the people make it so worthwhile. I strongly encourage anyone who is timid about their first time away at college to believe in yourself and stay true to who you are. More often than not we find that the surrounding crowd can influence us to change our ways so much so that we don't know who we are anymore. I promise that everyone will find their place in college, but it takes effort. Join clubs, go to sporting events, walk around campus and get to know where things are so you aren't lost like I found myself and my friends way too many times. Be nice to people and have an open mind, you never know what wonderful things can happen to you. If you don't make lifelong friends that first week don't worry, people are still open and rabidly searching for friends way beyond week 1.

Now, I'm not jealous of anyone who stayed behind in this Orange County bubble. In fact, I'm the polar opposite of jealous. I reflect on myself and see the amount of change I've encountered in a few short months at Oregon and see how the people down here are stuck in their sad, egotistical mindset and doing the same things they've always done, and will continue to do for the rest of their lives.

I love Oregon and in September I will be a sophomore. I like to think that I gained a lot of knowledge about everything in my first year and I will continue to add onto that with every new day. I love being a Duck and wouldn't trade my experiences at Oregon for anything. And yes, the PopTart selection up here is indeed plentiful.

P.S. This Sports Illustrated picture makes me proud. Yes, I'm in it and I'm so happy to represent a wonderful school.

Always,

GO DUCKS!!!!