I have officially reached the end of my first semester of college. Although I am very excited for winter break and not having to worry about school work for a while, I can't help but feel a little sad that my first year of college is halfway completed.

I am currently a First-Year at the illustrious Spelman College and I have waited so long to be able to say that. I have wanted to attend Spelman since I was in the 7th grade, and it was all I would ever talk about. to finally be here 5 years later is nothing short of a blessing. I wanted to attend Spelman, one because it was (and still is) the #1 HBCU, and two, because it felt like home. After spending all of my life as one of the few black girls in my class, I wanted to finally be surrounded by people that looked like me.

When I found out I was accepted and I had decided that I would be attending Spelman in the fall, I have to admit that i was a little nervous. I was afraid that Spelman would be nothing like I had imagined it. I was afraid that I would be disappointed once I made it here and would end up proving the people who said I shouldn't come here right. I wanted to love my dream school while enrolled as much as I did before I was accepted.

Now that I have completed my first semester, I am proud to say that Spelman College is still my dream school. I am so beyond thankful for the change in environment because it's making me become more confident in myself. Being surrounded by beautiful, intelligent black women like myself motivates me everyday to be better and work harder. I love that I, being the only girl of three children, have gained so many new sisters that I feel like I've known all my life in just a few months. I am thankful for the independence and the freedom to be myself that I didn't necessarily feel prior to coming to Spelman. I am thankful for the strong sense of community in the AUC and the gorgeous campus. I am thankful for AMAZING professors (for the most part) who have been so helpful and encouraged me to become a critical thinker.

I know I have only been here at Spelman for four months but I definitely feel like I am changed for life. While it's not perfect, I thank Spelman College for remaining my dream school of giving me the best months of my life (so far).