A Love Letter to Freshman Year

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Ever since I started my freshman year at Ohio Northern University, it has felt like home. I never expected a place away from home to bring me so much peace and comfort, as if I’d known it my whole life. I found an amazing group of friends who quickly became my family. We did everything you could imagine and lived in the moment for every second of it. Without them, freshman year wouldn’t have been the same.

I’m pretty sure all my friends would agree that early fall was “peak college.” The weather was beautiful, and we embraced it, knowing it wouldn’t last forever. Our weekends consisted of sand volleyball and other activities to create a break from school. Once winter came around, things changed. We couldn’t go outside and we were miserable walking from place to place. When ONU had enough snow on the ground, we took advantage of it. We bought sleds to share between the group and found a hill. While the winter seemed like it lasted forever, the warmer temperatures finally came out in April. Since then, we’ve been able to play sand volleyball again and disc golf.

Throughout the entire semester, I’ve competed in a long season for track and field. Workouts started in August, and my final competition was this past weekend. It was certainly tiring at times, but this sport gave me the best support system to lean on. This has by far been the best team I’ve been a part of. Everyone is super friendly and always ready to have fun. I was thankful enough to bond with most everyone and fit in easily. Since the beginning of the season, our word for the season was family, and it showed.

As I transitioned into a new place, adapted to having a roommate and was surrounded by unfamiliar people, I always gave myself grace. Sometimes change can be hard, but other times, it can be the best thing. For me, it was everything I needed and more.

I enjoyed being around new people in my classes and having the ability to join several organizations. Through these opportunities, I was able to meet people within my major and some people outside of it. I was able to create a well-rounded social life.

As freshman year comes to an end, I am forever grateful for the people who made a new place feel like a home.

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