Dear school that I call home,

I never knew that a student could want to go back to school as much as a college student. It’s not that my summer hasn’t been awesome, but you offer me the best of both worlds. Last year, when people asked me if I was nervous to move to school in a big city (coming from a town of 600), I confidently said "no."

You make home not so far away, and for that, I say "thank you."

Being active in 4-H and FFA for the majority of my youth, campus served as a host for many events. So, moving to school was sort of like an extended stay for a convention or contest. The friends that I made at 4-H and FFA events are everywhere: clubs, Greek life, my classes and even my dorm. I’ve known at least three people in every class that I have taken so far. I can’t walk around campus without waving at or saying hi to most of the people that I pass.

It doesn’t matter if the people that I meet on the sidewalk are fellow students or faculty, they all make time to say hello. Where else can you have a 20-minute conversation with the Chancellor or go to ice cream with the Dean? Our professors are top notch. Many of them are involved in research, one of the components of the land grant system. They make class engaging with real world examples. They make an effort to get to know you and to provide help outside of class.

Nothing can turn a bad day around like hearing your professor share a funny story from growing up on a farm, or cracking jokes with students during class. When the professors take time to chat after class about how life is going, you know you’re in the right place.

I’ll never forget the day that I walked into lab after getting a bad grade on a test. I hunkered down in my seat and bent over my notebook and avoided all contact. When the instructor asked a question and nobody answered, he called me out to answer it. He knew that I was capable of answering the question, and could see that I needed a confidence boost. I’ve been a huge believer in our professors ever since. Whether they are beginning their journey as university faculty, or have been there since before my parents were in college, they all care about helping students create their story.

Sharing an alma mater with a parent is pretty cool, but what’s even cooler is that most of my peers do the same. Whether it’s knowing that my mom lived in the same dorm, having the same professors as my friends’ parents, or following the same traditions, it’s hard to be homesick. Taking a walk around campus, it’s comforting to find pictures of family friends and see their names carved into bricks.

So, thank you, dear University. I can't wait to be back! I love being surrounded by people who have the same passions that I do, and who are always wiling to help one another succeed. The history at our school runs deep. I might be five hours from home, but livestock and corn fields are only a few minutes of walking away.