Entering into my freshman year of college was probably one of the most exciting times of my entire life. Being the only person from my graduating class to attend USF, I was flying solo, which turned out to be an amazing experience. Orientation week was a rush of fast paced friendships, San Francisco adventures, and 1000 new faces, but for as much fun as it was, the more time I spent at USF the better it got. Academically, I had a great schedule!  My professors were supportive throughout all of the stimulating classes and challenges (Tip: Professor's office hours are the absolute best use of your time). Call me a nerd, but a huge part of my love for college stems from being constantly intrigued and interested in what I'm learning about in my classes.  Because of USF's smaller class size students are able to take classes towards their major as early as their freshman year, which in turn, almost guarantees a desire to go to class, to become educated, and to crave knowledge; at least for me it did. I absolutely loved the majority of my classes and feel so confident about what I’ve learned over the past 9 months. All of that knowledge does come full circle though in this lovely little thing called finals week. Which, anyway you look at it, is difficult and so stressful, but you find ways to make it through (actually doing your assignments during the semester and not saving them for the last week helps a great deal, take it from me). Furthermore, when it's all over you are overcome with the greatest sense of relief you have ever experienced. And you may have even learned a thing or two. ;)

As fantastic as our classes are, so much learning in college is done outside the classroom, and as we are in San Francisco we have a million different things to learn from. The districts, the neighborhoods, the cultures, the parks, the museums, the people; San Francisco teaches you a little bit about humanity's interconnectedness. In one morning/ afternoon I walked from Union Square through China Town to Little Italy, up Russian Hill, down to Union Street, to the wharf, down to the embarcadero, up through the financial district, and back to the square. These past 9 months have been filled with ridiculous memories like walking half the city in a couple hours. Cable Car rides at 11:30 at night, beach bon fires, going out to clubs, working out at Koret (great facility), dinner downtown,  house parties, unbelievable friendships, late nights in the library that turn into early mornings, soccer games, dorm room movie nights, live concerts( Wyclef anyone?), cab rides, Sunday mornings in the Castro, Delta Zeta socials, coffee study breaks at Crossroads, walks to Haight in the pouring rain, 2am trips to The Lucky Penny followed by 7 hour days in the library with your best friends, these are all part of this amazing experience that is going to school at USF.

 My first year at USF was unbelievable. For me, it is the exactly where I am supposed to be. Currently, I am back home in Portland for summer vacation; life here is jam packed with family time, seeing my friends that I have missed so much, dance classes, and work. I have plans to travel back east to visit family and to spend 3 weeks in the south of France later this summer, and as exciting as that is, I am just as excited to head back to school. I am so looking forward to seeing my “bestest” friends, checking in with my favorite professors, eating at my favorite cafe, lying on the beach for hours, and further exploring my beautiful city by the bay.

 Now you have the opportunity to make your own memories; go into this new chapter of your life with an open mind, an understanding heart, and a fierce curiosity, and you too will leave captivated. I love my Portland, my friends that I have grown up with, and my family beyond belief; but, I have left my heart in San Francisco!