During my senior year of high school, finding a college that stood out to me was nearly an unsuccessful pursuit. I was considering just taking a gap year and working full-time to save up as much money as I could before I spent it all on school. I didn't think that any of the colleges I heard about were a good fit for me and I was getting tired of searching. One night, I got a call from the cross-country coach at UMW who was recruiting runners and said he would offer me a scholarship. This came as a shock to me.

I wasn't sure if I was going to continue running in college because I was recovering from a hip fracture that took me out of my last season of cross-country. I thought I didn't have a hopeful future in the sport. But what really mattered to me was how high of a priority running was in my life and I didn't want to lose it. My family and I contemplated going to Dillon for college and the more we thought about it, the more we realized this was the perfect opportunity for me. I joined the first-ever cross country team at UM-Western to compete with that fall.

When my first year of college finally arrived, I met my new team who were all very anxious for the new adventure that was to come. None of us knew what to expect because this was the first team, so we were all in the same boat. All of my teammates were very friendly and down-to-earth people and that didn't change when I met the rest of Dillon's college kids at orientation. Everyone was welcoming and willing to get to know you, which was different from what I had ever experienced before. That must be the most magical aspect of the college atmosphere in a small town; you get to meet a lot of amazing new people who will treat you with warmth and kindness, including the teachers and staff.

After orientation ended, I started my classes. Because this college has the block system, you take one class at a time and each class lasts for seventeen days. After eight classes or "blocks," you earn the same amount of credits as a student who takes multiple classes at the same time throughout the whole year. This gives you the chance to really focus on the class you are taking and absorb all the information you can in the short amount of time. It is hard work because each day is equivalent to a week of class, but it is well worth it.

I took a few required art classes for my first semester which was exciting because I never took art in high school while I was so caught up in AP classes and studying hard. I threw myself into these classes full-heartedly and learned more about art than I ever would have imagined. Every class I took that year kept me on my toes from beginning to end. The hard work showed when I made it onto the Dean's List while also improving my 5K race time.

I couldn't find a college that I am more impressed with and am so excited for the years to come. I have an overwhelming love for this place that came into my life so suddenly. I felt a lot of hopelessness during my senior year, but this college helped dig me out of the hole that I was in and find myself again. Every day was so special, I couldn't help but feel joy. Thank you to every person I met while I was there. You help me be better. This college definitely deserves the first place in Montana and my heart. Go Bulldogs!