Opinion
Freshmen discover lots to love about college life; looking forward to more
December 6, 2007
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving break is already here and gone. Where has the time gone?
Over the past few months I have been filling you in on my viewpoints of living, partying and learning here at UW-River Falls. I was starting to think, what else will people what to hear? This week my column is not only about what I enjoy and think, but also what some of my classmates are enjoying as well.
Over the course of the past week I have been asking some of my fellow first-year Falcons what they are enjoying most about being at college. I found a large variety of answers. With so many new opportunities and recent changes in our lives, a lot of new doors have been opened up to many people. The most common response that I encountered was the newfound freedoms we are experiencing. When we lived at home with our families, we all had the household rules to follow and the standards to live up to. One student told me that he loves being able to come back to his room in the middle of the night and not worry about being stopped at the door and drilled about where he had been all night, because more than likely his roommate was out with him having just as much fun.
The second most common response was meeting all the new people. Having gone to a big high school and graduating with about 660 people, I had a lot of friends, and leaving them was very difficult.
Of course, you all can relate and agree that our student body is so amazing, and making friends with everyone here has been, and continues to be, a blast. Living on campus really gives us an advantage to making friends. If you stop and think of who your first real friend was here at UWRF, that person probably lives in your building, if not on your floor.
Campus living brings me to the third most common response. I would definitely agree that living on campus is nothing but 24-7 fun. When I asked the respondents why dorm life was their favorite part, most of them said the constant opportunity to have a good time. We must give tons of credit to our hall managers and residence assistants who make all that fun possible; the random decorating of cookies in McMillan Hall is nothing short of awesome.
Well, Falcons, there’s a little insight on what you and those around you are thinking about college so far. As freshmen, we have so much to learn and tons more fun to have, but the best part is that we get to do it together. In short, enjoy your time here, because it’s already going way too fast. Make every day count, and be sure your glass and the glasses around you stay half full.
Linda Abel is double-majoring in marketing communications and business communications with an emphasis in professional organization. In her free time she likes to dance, watch movies, hang out with friends and spend time with family.