Welcome back to another year, Texas Tech! After another summer that seemed way too short, we’re back again for more tests, less free time, and an even smaller amount of sanity. Seriously, I can’t wait.

As for us here at the Odyssey, this is everything we could hope for. A new school year brings new exciting opportunities, new awkward moments, new relationships and new world events – all of which make for a stellar article. The Odyssey at Tech is here to spread the word. Now whether that’s “the word” on the latest political debate or what we’ve learned about relationships via our most recently failed one is yet to be decided – we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. But what I can assure you as our reader is that we strive to keep you entertained.

To say that Texas Tech has a lot going on would be like saying Tech football is occasionally important to a few people in West Texas. Exactly – the understatement of the century. With over 30,000 students enrolled at the University, there’s always something happening, which we are dedicated to talking about. With the Odyssey being as big as it is, covering campuses all over the country, it’s important to us to give this tumbleweed-ridden, occasionally flooded, West Texas campus a voice.

And on that note, I invite you to join us. Do you have something to say? Are people constantly telling you you’re “too opinionated”? Do you have a burning interest in politics, pop-culture or sports? Then please apply to join our team! Greeks, non-Greeks, writers-in-training and “sometimes I journal” writers are all welcome.

So let’s make this year great. Let’s ask questions, even when we feel like our classmates will hate us for it. Let’s talk to the guy or girl sitting next to us in class even though they’re totally out of our league. Let’s volunteer because we want to, not because we need a service sheet signed. Let’s laugh too loud and cry when we need to, despite the idea that crying makes us weak. Let’s strive to better ourselves and those around us. Whether you’re an undergrad who just graduated high school or a mother of four who finally had time to come back for her degree, we all have something to offer. We all have something to say, something to stand for and something to work towards.

From the Odyssey to you, we encourage you to jump headfirst into this semester. Just drink lots of coffee first, because odds are you were up until dawn watching Netflix.

Don’t worry – your secret is safe with us.