What I Learned My Freshman Year of College

            Wow. I’m still in shock that I just completed my first year of college. I’m already ¼ done with some of the greatest years of my life. This past year truly has been one of the best. I’ve laughed more than I ever have before, I’ve shed a few tears too, but I’ve learned, grown as a person, and made memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

            My mom told me over and over again that there are so many things that I’m going to learn in college outside of the classroom and not in books. I’ve only been here a year but looking back I sure did retain a lot and I’d like to share.

So here are my top 30 pieces of advice to incoming freshman:

1. Always check your email before going to class because there is always that off chance that you have an email from God himself (okay your professor) saying class is cancelled.

2. Going to the gym is important, DO IT! The earlier the better because that’s when it’s emptiest and if you actually want to get something done try to stay away from 2-6 PM because that’s when it’s busiest.

3. Be unique, be you. Cowboy boots are practically foreign here in Syracuse, NY. Well, they are also apart of my everyday wardrobe considering I have seven pairs. So I didn’t let that stop me from wearing them with everyday outfits, not just on Halloween when girls were dressing up as “cowgirls” with their plaid shirts from Hollister and high-heeled cowgirl boots.

4. Clubs and organizations are going to lure you in with free pizza, especially the first few weeks of school. GO TO THESE EVENTS. You are in college. If it’s free, especially food, you take advantage even if you aren’t especially interested in the Squirrel Watching Club. If there is free pizza you go.

5. Go to class. It may seem like the cool thing to brag about that you skipped again but it’s worthwhile to go. You’re paying an arm and a leg and maybe another leg too just to sign up for these classes so get something out of them. You never know when something important may be discussed.

6. Naps are God’s gift to college students, but be sure to set an alarm for a nap no longer than 1-½ hours because you will not be able to sleep that night or you will wake up tired rather than refreshed.

7. Bring fun things to do with your friends. The laser tag game I got for Valentine’s Day was a hit! The boys on my floor and I played for hours. But give a bunch of ROTC kids guns and we know how to have fun. Cards Against Humanity was also a fun time too, just know your group well enough that no one will be offended playing.

8. Ordering wings at 2:00 AM every now and then isn’t going to kill you. Just don’t make it a regular thing.

9. When people tell you how many more credits they’re taking/have taken, clubs they’re in, internships they have, and everything else and they’re your age – don’t panic. It’s okay to not be tied down and forced into doing things so quickly.

10. With that being said, take college classes in high school! If I hadn’t come in with 21 credits, changing my major may have caused me to stay longer and that may even still be a possibility unfortunately.

11. “Win or lose we booze” is a real thing. People are always going to find a reason to drink, don’t be surprised by it.

12. Mental breakdowns are common. It’s nothing that a good chat with your best friend over hot chocolate and kahlúa can’t fix.

13. Nobody, I repeat, nobody, cares about your boyfriend or girlfriend from home. We’ll listen every now and then, but honestly we don’t give two shits. Actually, we don’t even give one.

14. Don’t buy the books for class right away. Sometimes you get lucky and the professor says you can find it online or you don’t even need the book so save that money because books will be one of your biggest expenses!

15. Changing your major is completely okay. If you want to, do it. Maybe a couple times. Make sure to question life and why you’re even in college too. If you don’t do that then you’re lying to yourself.

16. You don’t need to be an alcoholic to have fun and you’re not going to be the only one who doesn’t drink. If you don’t want to, don’t feel ashamed for not being interested.

17. You look stupid wearing heels to class. You look even more stupid wearing heels and a barely there skirt and crop top to a party on a Saturday night in February.

18. Do some crazy things and cross shit off your bucket list. Also, never turn down a challenge. I got my cartilage pierced and did the polar plunge. Also climbed a statue of a horse just to say I did it.

19. You will hear it again and again. But get involved. You don’t need to fill every single time slot in your schedule or be a D1 athlete. But give yourself a reason to get your work done or a new way to meet friends. I don’t know what I’d do without the club Western Equestrian team and I’ve made some great memories because of it.

20. Dressing nice during finals week is overrated. As is wearing makeup and anything other than sweatpants to your 8:00 AM.

21. Familiarize yourself with the Greek alphabet because sororities and fraternities are a common topic of discussion and you’re going to want to know what house you’re looking for when it’s negative temperatures and 11:30 PM on a Friday night.

22. Call home, write home, facetime home, visit home every now and then. I guarantee you’ll be homesick at first. You may think you’re homesick, but even more than that, your parents and family miss you. They’ll try to act tough and like you being gone doesn’t bother them but they would do anything to have you living at home again.

23. You’re lying to yourself if you think you’re going to go to bed early. And if you do go to bed before 10:00 PM you probably pulled an all nighter the night before or are extremely sick.

24. You will make the greatest friends at the most unexpected times. Do whatever you need to do for them because they would do the same for you. If they need a gym buddy go with them. If they want someone to eat with, be there even if you ate not to long ago. Help them study, let them vent, do anything for them. Those are the people who will be in your life for the long haul.

25. Romantic relationships are overrated. Live while you’re young and enjoy being able to talk and hang out with whomever you’d like.

26. Never promise yourself that you will study or do a project over breaks such as Thanksgiving and Spring Break because it never in a million years will happen. Instead you will watch Netflix, sleep, and enjoy your mom’s cooking.

27. With that being said, Netflix is the college kid’s best and worst enemy. It will entertain you during all hours of the night or keep you awake during a lecture hall, but it will also distract you from your homework and cause you to lose a significant amount of sleep.

28. College is about learning to do something well and in a short amount of time. Procrastination is common. Master it.

29. Your parents are going to constantly ask you about your grades. If you’re lucky you can be straightforward and honest, for the rest of you, start thinking creatively now.

30. Most importantly though, have fun. Enjoy the time because you don't get much of it. Step out of your comfort zone and make some memories. Take a ton of pictures, try not to stress too much, and live while you're young. 

Kaileen and Scott are two of the greatest friends I could ever ask for, and college would not have been the same if it were not for them. Thank you both of you. I'm going to miss you two so much over summer, but I can't wait for the next three years!

Blessed With Freedom

            At one point in my life it honestly didn’t matter to me that I was born and raised in America.  However, one day it occurred to me just how lucky I am to have lived my life in such an amazing country. It wouldn’t be this country today though without our veterans. I realized there were people who had impacted my life who were much more selfless, courageous, and honorable than anyone I had ever met.

            I think I developed my soft spot for the military when I spent a week at Pennsylvania’s state police “boot camp”. It really hit me at camp graduation when our drill sergeant got choked up because his son was leaving for the Middle East. When I went back to this camp a few years later as a counselor, the sacrifices the military men and women of this country make every day became even more evident. The young man who was once just my drill instructor I’ve come to regard as a dear friend.

            I asked Sgt. Reynolds once why there was pride serving in the United States military. He told me that today, less than 1% of the entire U.S. population serves in the armed forces. Sadly, less than 1% are willing to fulfill a selfless act such as joining. He said there is nothing else that a person can do to show how much he loves his country then be willing to lay down his own life for it. He also said that all of the men who died before him saw that our nation was worth dying for and took pride in keeping the country safe and free for the generations to come. They did this not for glory or recognition, but for others. There is pride in the military because some people truly do love this country and are willing to do anything for it.

            I got another taste of the sacrifice one makes joining the military in March 2013 when a marine from my hometown was killed during the explosion at the Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada. I didn’t personally know him, but went to junior high with his fiancé. Hundreds of people from surrounding towns lined the streets to honor him during his funeral procession and to pay their respects. That sad time in our small town as well as the memories of him still today, show the amount of respect and honor people have for those who have served.

            For the past three months I’ve been living on the same floor as the Air Force ROTC learning community at Syracuse University. They are some of the greatest people I’ve gotten to know and friends I believe I’ll have for many more years.

When I asked them why they decided to become cadets they all echoed the same idea of wanting to give back to America and wanting to feel like they were making a difference in our country. Many of them come from military families with parents and grandparents who had served in either the Air Force or another branch, and they wanted to continue the tradition. They said that regardless of the duty they felt they had to their families who had served, they still felt they had a duty to their country. One told me that he realized it was a job that most people don’t want to do and he wanted to serve because he can make sure through it that people have a better life by the sacrifices he would make.

            I’ve really gotten to know these guys in the time spent together and I’ve come to regard them as basically brothers because we live together. What one of them said though really hit home for exactly what it means to be proud to be an American. He told me that to serve in the military you have to love this country as much as you love your life. He went out to say that to be able to join you have to be the person who tears up during the national anthem.

            The pride that he demonstrated in that statement was unbelievable. I never would’ve expected something like that coming from him but the military really does something to change a person’s outlook on how they view this country.

            Unfortunately some people think we should only honor those who have died. And many forget that there are 364 other days in the year that you can thank a service man or woman. Although Veterans Day means perhaps going a little more out of your way to show your thankfulness and respect, it shouldn’t be limited to just this day. All veterans deserve our upmost respect and thanks. Whether they be active duty, retired, reserves, or discharged, they still offered themselves to the United States. Without them, our lives wouldn’t be what they are today.  

            I’ve always had this thought in the back of my mind to one-day open a horse ranch for veterans to help them ease back into civilization after war and for injuries or medical problems that may have occurred while serving. That isn’t what I’m going to school for, but it has always been a nagging idea in the back of my mind.

I recently sat down and talked to a medically discharged marine who said his life went off the deep-end after doing a tour in Afghanistan. He shared with me that upon returning to the U.S. he was lost in life and became an alcoholic with no plans or goals. Much has changed since then and he now is married with a beautiful baby boy. I asked if he thought his life might have been different if he would’ve participated in some sort of equine therapy like I mentioned above. This man told me that equine therapy was not promoted upon his discharge but it would have been something that interested him and could have changed the path he took.

Unless something disastrous happens our country doesn’t seem to care. It takes tragedy to get people to notice and that doesn’t say much for our country. I want to open my ranch out of appreciation and respect to veterans. It’s the least I can do for all they’ve done for me.

            Today is a special day in our country. If you see someone who has dedicated their life to the United States, thank them. That small thank you goes such a long way.

To all who have dedicated their lives to protecting our country, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. Those simple worlds will never be enough to sincerely show our appreciation and gratitude.