It is always scary when starting a new situation. Moving away from what I called home for 18 years, leaving friends and family to start my college career at Eastern was overwhelming.

It was a new adventure and a new life for the next four years. I was two and a half hours away from home, by myself and with no idea of what the next four years at Eastern would be like.

Now I am six weeks away from graduating, and I remember thinking to myself during my freshmen year, “Wow, I have three and a half years left.” The time just went by so fast it feels like yesterday that my parents dropped me off to start my new endeavor.

But now it is time to leave, and not only with just a degree, but also with memories of my years here at Eastern.

During the first couple of days my freshman year, living in Andrews Hall, where I lived for three years, I met numerous amounts of people and made many friends. But there are four good friends I have made who have been my support through the past four years.

My roommate from freshman year and I are still friends. As for my neighbors, one became Eastern’s student body president; the other neighbor got married and had a baby; and the other neighbor and I were roommates our junior year. We didn’t know what experiences we would have on the first day of school, but things changed, and we all leave with great memories.

College is all about meeting new people from different towns and learning about their lives. Through the years, I have met hundreds of people I say hello to every day and made even more good friends. In addition to the people I have met, there are others who just give a friendly “hello” regardless if you know them or not. Even my current roommate said that was one of the reasons that attracted her to Eastern.

Not only did making friends help me settle at Eastern, but the campus atmosphere was friendly, as it should be considering this would be my home for the

next four years.

Along with making friends, I saw the campus change and become better. I saw the library before it closed for the three-year renovation, and I am glad I was still here to see it when it re-opened. The renovation was definitely worth the wait. I also was here when McDonalds was the only fast food restaurant on campus, and now we have a Food Court with five different vendors.

Although students complained about the construction and fences, if you wait just long enough, you will see the result of the various campus projects and the passion Eastern has to make the campus better for its students, who make Charleston their home for four years.

I also knew getting involved in different organizations and going to campus events would be important.

Personally, I joined The Daily Eastern News, the yearbook and different organizations. And through these organizations, I did not only meet students, but

faculty and administrators, such as some of the vice presidents, former President Carol Surles and interim President Lou Hencken, who will stop and talk to you when you see him walking around campus.

I also went to basketball and football games, concerts, lectures and festivals, which gives you a way to relax from school and be in a fun environment with friends. Being involved and going to campus events has benefited me, and I hope every student takes advantage of all the different organizations and events Eastern has to offer.

Of course, students are here for one main purpose and that is to receive an education. Through the years, my teachers have challenged me, and I have probably

challenged them, just as all students do, I’m sure. Now I will leave Eastern with valuable lessons, knowledge and an education I’ll apply to the “real world.”

Now leaving Eastern in six weeks, I take with me the pride of attending this university, a degree to show my education, a great alma mater to visit in the future that will continue making positive changes for Eastern’s community and memories that will stay with me for a lifetime.

“I’m so glad I go to EIU!”