Now that I'm back on my tiny little campus that I love so dearly, I'm starting to feel more at home. Coming back for your second year of school is much different than coming in as a first year student. I know this campus. I know what works and what doesn't work for me. I had a pretty grand first year when I look at the big picture. I figured out a lot of things and I met a lot of really wonderful people. I learned how to manage my time between hanging out with friends and, oh that's right, studying! The reason why we are all spending so much money to attend school.
There was one spot on campus that was kind of "my go to" place. It was my university's student center, Anderson Center.
Thank you for being air conditioned. I can't imagine trying to student and cram in my hot and humid dorm room. I know that you saw the best of me but you also saw the worst of me. You were there when I had to stay up until one in the morning because I forgot that I had a quiz in the morning. You housed a lot of good laughs during family dinner with my friends. You also housed a lot of dance parties during my long nights of studying.
Thank you for being open until 2 am. I do not know where else I would have gone to spend my time eating Nutter Butters and studying the weeks before finals. You provided me with a comfortable space to study so I could crush my finals.
Thank you for the late night conversations. I learned more about my friends at 11:30 at night while being in the student center. This place became a safe haven for a lot of us during our time here. A place for us to gather and share stories of our childhood and high school lives.
Thank you for feeding me. Although, I'm super glad that I never have to eat your food again if I don't want to, I'm glad that I didn't have to worry about my meals my first year of attending college. Okay, I'm going to miss the sugar cookies!
Thank you for having a Starbucks. I can't survive without coffee and sometimes I just need to get some coffee on the way to class. Even if I spent a lot of money on coffee even though I could have just made my own coffee. I had to treat myself.
Thank you for housing my endless laughs, meals, random dance parties, creation of friendships, coffee dates, late night study sessions, meltdowns, stressful meetings, memories, people watching, and of course studying.
I'm glad that I found my safe haven on campus and I'm even more glad that I back in this place that has helped me through so many different experiences during my first year and beyond!