Freshman year just started for me at Troy University. I was never planning on going to Troy, but here I am and it is single-handedly the best decision I have ever made this far in my life. College is already a foreign place, especially to people who've never had to be independent in their high school life, but I can honestly say that Troy has been a home away from home for me and that says a lot because I only live an hour away from campus.

The scariest part about starting any new school, not just college, is meeting new people and making friends. I have an advantage because I'm here with my two best friends from high school and people I've met through group chats when I was first accepted. I've also met some of the faculty and staff while walking around campus, and they are some of the nicest people I have ever met; they exhibit southern hospitality like no other. They greet you every morning and if they have a little time, they stop to have a brief conversation with you. The staff in the career center was extremely understanding when I went to them with help for my choice of major, and they guided me in the right direction.

The RAs in my building are the most understanding and realest people I've met so far because they don't sugarcoat college life; they told us in the hall meeting that it is crucial to meet people and make friends because college can be lonely and assured us that if we didn't have anyone to talk to, we could go downstairs and talk to them. They want us to always stay safe, no matter where we go. If we come back late and are scared, they said that we can always text them to tell them and they would be up waiting for us to make it in safely. No matter who's sitting at the table in the morning, they'll always say, "Hey!" or "Good morning!" The RAs really are your mom and dads while you're here because they want you to be comfortable and enjoy living in the building just like your parents want you to be comfortable at home.

I don't appreciate the fact that I am a freshman again, but it's apart of life and now I'm back at the bottom of the food chain, but upperclassmen in college don't treat me like a freshman, which makes things easier. I had the advantage of meeting a lot of upperclassmen when I started writing for Odyssey as a part of the Troy community. At the time, I was the only freshman, so I was able to spend months getting to know many upperclassmen to ask them how Troy was and they all said it was the best decision they ever made coming here.

I don't know how the rest of the year is going to turn out, but I'm happy that I am able to enjoy not only the best college in the south, but the nicest college in the south.