It seems like just yesterday I was graduating high school, so happy that it was finally over. I hated high school for the most part, and I was glad to be going on to the next step. At my New Titan Day, I met one of my first friends I made while at school, after I stated to our tour guide "I'm scared about college!" (Enter Grimey). I also pointed out a cute boy who was staring at me who would later become my boyfriend.

Soon summer came and gone, and my bedroom was filled with decorations, and stuff for my college room. My statement from my New Titan Day still stood; I was terrified to start college. It was new and exciting, but that meant leaving the few friends I did have at home behind, and not seeing my family everyday. It also meant making new friends, and I wasn't exactly good at that.

I arrived at Browne Hall 215 that Friday morning, and thus began my Fresh Start Weekend. I won't lie to you, I cried when my parents left, and I was so overwhelmed. But soon we were ushered off to do fun things and get to know each other. I actually met a lot of great people that weekend, specifically in my fresh start group, as well as the girl's roommate who I met at New Titan Day. Oddly enough, she is going to by roommate next year and I couldn't be more excited.

That first week went by fast and I loved my classes; in fact I barely missed any my first semester, and none my second semester. Highly unlikely for someone who missed upwards of 30 days in high school per year. For most people, the first year of college means changing your major and finding out who you are and who you want to be. But for me, what I want to do was only reinforced when I began taking classes. I loved my biology classes, despite how tough they could be and the large adjustment. I loved every second of it and it only made me realize more how much I wanted to work in medicine.

Soon it was October and I was starting to get the hang of the things at WC. It was my birthday month and I wasn't expecting much but I had a friend who decorated my door with balloons, and bought me chalk for my door, and even multiple cards slid under my door for me. I was so excited and it was silly how the smallest things had made my whole day. And later that week I met that same cute boy who was staring at me at New Titan Day, it wasn't long until we started dating. And I couldn't be happier that Westminster has brought us together.

A lot of people coming in may scoff at Westminster because it wasn't their first choice; and that's okay but please do yourself a favor and be open-minded. You'll really grow into your own here. This year was one of the best in all my years of being in school.

I learned some independence, and how to take care of myself. And don't get me wrong; there were times that I still needed to ask my mom questions (So wait you can't put towels and whites in together??). But for me that was a really important step considering I was really concerned about whether I would do well or not.

I learned how to let people see the real me, something I couldn't do in high school. I met so many beautiful, amazing people. People that I honestly thought never would've liked me, but they did because I was actually myself around them. And one of my favorite parts of WC is that I have friends in so many different majors including my own, and with all of the different clubs I can branch out in interests away from biology. And trust me, you need that break from it.

I've learned some time management skills this year, you almost have to. Classes are so different since you don't have the same classes everyday and your schedule varies from day to day. But that variation is what makes college fun and different, so enjoy it! Because I know I have so far.

Your first year of college's main focus is on learning; learning about yourself, what you want to do, who you want to be, who are your friends, who you love, how to be independent, how to live in tight quarters, how to eat healthy with all the temptation (I'm still working on this one) and so much more. So be open to the experience and you will love it, just like I did.