Throughout high school, everyone used to tell me that everything would change once I went to college. Certain friendships would weaken and you would find who you really were. Hearing these things, I never really believed them. I enjoyed high school, who I was, the hobbies I was in, and the friends that I had. I had my very close friends that I was with 24/7, I was always playing hockey, and I loved the job that I had as well as the people I worked with. I never thought those things were going to change, and that no matter what I would still manage to keep these things the same. I think this is partially why I struggled my first semester of college. I missed my friends, the employees I used to work with, I missed being on the ice, and I generally just didn’t know what to do. I believe, however, that we all hit that point in a major turning point in our lives. Everything is just so new and it all changes so fast. But from that point you start to come back and piece together parts of your past, as well as add new parts to your life.

At first I was a little upset I wasn’t somewhere new, experiencing new things, and meeting new people. But towards my second semester of college I really came to appreciate living at home. I love being close to my family, they have always been the biggest importance in my life. I think, had I moved out, I would have struggled living away from home. My parents and my sister have always been there when I needed help, and I don’t know what I would do without their guidance and support. We all get along, and enjoy the times we get with each other whenever we aren’t studying, working, or doing other necessities in life.

Starting off my first semester I hardly knew anyone living in Denver I could hang out with. This is also the point where I have met new people that are now some of my closest friends, 3 of which somehow all being Madison’s. From there my attitude toward my school had really begun to change. I learned to love being downtown, right in the heart of the city. I started to spend my breaks to go workout, grab lunch with a friend, or even to just do homework. The last big change in my life was when I decided to get a new job. I love my new co-workers, and really enjoy the atmosphere in the area. It was something that scared me a little at first, but turned out to be a good decision.

So if you find yourself struggling at a new school, job, or state I would just say try and get yourself out there to meet new people and explore the area around it. You may find yourself coming to love it in the end.