As I sit at my front desk shift in McCandless, I am overwhelmed with emotion. Part of me is happy to not be in the same position as you, but part of me wishes that that was me all over again.

I watch each and every one of you moving your stuff in. You are still trying to figure out how everything works, yet you already claim to know way more than your parents. You are beginning to make friends, if nothing else you recognize that girl from your peer mentor group. If you are lucky enough to know an upperclassman you tell your new friends not to walk around with their lanyard around their necks and not to walk in mass groups of people even though you may be nervous.

While I am glad to have three years under my belt here, part of me still yearns for that newness of freshman year. Saint Mary's College is literally at your finger tips. You can take your life and college career here in any direction that you choose. I'm mostly jealous that you have four years at the most wonderful place on Earth, though.

If any of you are reading this and thinking that maybe Saint Mary's isn't for you, or maybe you just aren't sure yet, don't panic. You will find your place. You will experience something on this campus or with other Belles and think to yourself, "Oh, so this is what it means to be a Belle. This is why people gush about Saint. Mary's." For some Belles, that realization comes the second they step foot on campus. For others, it takes a lot more time, maybe almost an entire year, and that's OK. I just encourage you to do more of whatever gives you that feeling.

I can guarantee everyone has already told you this, but these four years go by so much faster than you can even imagine. I always took that for granted. When I was a freshman and my upper-class friends (who I was beyond lucky to have) told me that they wished they were freshman again I would literally laugh. They had obviously forgotten about getting lost, making friends, and having to do homework for foreign language classes. Looking back now though as I prepare to attend my last "first day of school" here; I realize how right they were. So embrace every single second of freshman year. We are beyond excited to welcome you into our home here at Saint Mary's.