First comes August, then comes Coker.

It is slightly frightening and somewhat funny looking back on how fast the years come and go in a blink of an eye. One minute you're arriving for Freshman Orientation and meeting your Commissioner parents, the next minute you're planning what you're doing your Senior Seminar on. My advice is take everything in stride when you arrive. How quickly your time passes here will remind of you of how quickly high school went. Just like with Coker, you'll be hoping and wishing for more time here. Coker is truly like a family, and it has an atmosphere you can not find at a large University. From the Student Center to Residence Life and the faculty, they will learn to know your name and love you as well. You will never feel out of place because even when you're lost, there is always a helping hand around the corner of Davidson Hall or the Science building.

I know you're going to feel anxious and nervous when you first arrive and that is okay because I did too and I still do sometimes, but you know what did not make me feel so bad? The fact that I did not have to move my stuff in because the athletes did (I am so sorry, you guys). That was a little less weight off my shoulders. Literally. After the first three days I felt fine because I had created friendships within those three days as well as found the people I met at Coker Connection. Do not worry because even though you might feel lonely, you won't be lonely here for long. I promise that once you create these friendships in August, you'll be slightly dreading summer until you can get back to August again. High school summers and college summers are too different things.

Oh, please do not feel like you have to have your whole life together when you arrive. I am a junior and I am still trying to figure myself out. College is not only about finding a major or a career, but also finding yourself because once you have an idea of who you want to be as a person, you'll know what you want to do. There is always room for self reflection which I recommend. So, do not worry about not getting a position for a certain club this year or switching your major twice or changing your sport because it happens. It is still happening even with people going into their third year here. But whenever you have questions that's what you have your Coker family for. Never be afraid to ask questions because everyone wants to see you succeed in every aspect: athletically, academically or organizations you're apart of. It is all about experiences to the smallest event or to the largest study abroad trip. Coker is a whole support team, and even my personal motivators when I feel overwhelmed so I am blessed to have them.

One of my most valued memories I think about often is when it was late at night when I was doing my homework on Memorial 3rd floor porch or it's 11:55 or when I was still in my private room in the library. I would not go back and change anything that occurred my whole semester or that whole year. At some point, any of those memories have made me laugh, think, cry and become a better person for myself, for my friends or the new comers in August. I will never regret my 2:30 am rides to Cookout with my friends, because we've been doing late night homework, walking back to my dorm room after I've been in a friends for 4 hours, fall off the bleachers from being too hyped at a basketball game or wrestling match, running in the rain to make it to a Trans4mation event, waking up 5 minutes before my class starts or even buying my best friend Starbucks or WOW because they ran out of Cobra Cash. Memories like this makes August, makes Coker, makes being away from home worth the while, because I didn't just earn the opportunity to go to Coker every August, I gained an extended family as well. That is why I take all of this in stride. Wouldn't you want this feeling for you to last too? It is always a great day to be a Cobra.