It's hard to imagine that in a little under two weeks my freshman year will be over. Just the other day, May 1st, was National College Commitment Day and I could only reminisce about how time has flown by. It was only a year ago that I was still in high school, thinking about what college I wanted to go to and when next time my friends and I would be getting sushi. Instead, I now sit in the Panera on College Ave, writing this article and panicking over the five finals that are literally right around the corner. Where has the time gone?

Although fast, I'm grateful for Rutgers and everything that it has offered me. The memories are going to last a lifetime, not to mention the relationships I have created and developed. My freshman college experience was everything could have hoped it would be and then some. With the semester and year coming to a close, I've been thinking a lot about how things could have turned out differently for me. How the slightest hesitation or making a contrasting decision would have the ability to change everything. The choices I have made are what led me to where I am today and I would not change them for the world.

Like I said, the memories I've made at Rutgers are going to stay with me forever. But, there are quite a few events and people that stick out more than others. They were the times and actions where I knew I wasn't alone, that Rutgers is where I'm meant to be. So, here they are, a list of the memories I've made that have changed my life for the better.

Throwdown

Although a simple one, it was truly the first event where I got to meet most, if not all, of the people living in my building. Throwdown, with all of its competitions and prizes, was a time for those living in the dorm to bond. It was a chance for everyone to bond over something, to create relationships with one another right off the bat. While some of the friends I made at Throwdown have faltered, there are the few that I continue to get closer with as the days go by. These are the friends that have been there for me through it all and I know will keep that same energy in the coming years. It is these relationships that remind me of Throwdown constantly, not to mention the fact that I got a free t-shirt.

Writing for Odyssey

Before coming to Rutgers, I was an average writer and a lacking member of my high school's online newspaper. But Odyssey gave me the chance to truly develop my skills and have a voice amongst so many others. Even though it sounds cliche, posting on Odyssey has been a choice I will never regret. I look forward to submitting my article, to seeing the views each one gets, and hoping that I'm making an impact on someone's life. Someone once asked me, "Why do you write all of your articles from a psychological perspective?" And to be honest, I think that person is wrong. Every article I've written has been meant to showcase my experiences and share them with anyone willing to take the time out of their day to read them. I hope that in doing so, I'm being relatable and showing who I truly am with the world.

My best friend

Late night conversations

I can't remember whether or not I've mentioned it before, but literally everyone in my building is a night owl. There is never a time when the halls are silent, as music is always blasting and voices traveling around every corner. But the real memories are made in the lounges, where everyone gathers just to talk about their day and rant about what they're stressed about. Although some of these conversations are meant to be serious, they will always, without a doubt, end in laughter. Everyone can never say enough and they end up lasting into the early morning, with some people have early 8 a.m. classes. It is easy to get sidetracked during these conversations, with topic after topic someone connecting in a way that only makes sense to those involved from the beginning. But, I've gotten the best advice from these conversations and have gotten to know some of the most amazing people, so it's alright.

There are so many more memories that I could mention, but I'm running out of words. At this point, I've got about eighty left, and I want to use those to say something else: Rutgers was definitely not my first choice when it came to colleges. But now that I've spent the past seven months here, I cannot picture myself anywhere else. Rutgers is my home away from home and I know that even when I graduate, I'll always be a Scarlet Knight at heart. So in the words of Fall Out Boy, "thnks fr the mmrs."