Fifth Floor

I moved into Finley Hall the first night, and found myself bawling in my room because I felt so alone. I didn’t have my roommate and my bed was half the size I was used to be. Then the next morning I woke up and didn’t go into a living room with a comfortable couch and TV, I sat on my dorm bed, putting my bare feet on hard, cold flooring and looked at the small space I was going to be living in until June. I thought it was going to be hell.

Now here I am, two weeks away from moving out and it makes me... (I can’t believe I am saying this) SAD. I am very sad to be leaving the place that I called home for my freshman year in college. This has been one of the most terrifying years of my life and definitely the biggest change. I had acquired three of my very best friends by the time fall term had ended and I was happy enough to just find them (little did I know that I had many more people to befriend). Then Winter Break happened and a lot changed for me. When I came out I had absolutely no idea how the world would accept it, let alone my hall. I was terrified to let anyone know but it turns out that I am surrounded by the best damn friends I could have been surrounded with. I had never felt so accepted in all of my life. Every day the clichés become more and more correct, because I met AMAZING people during my freshman year.

Not saying that it was all fun and games. I had my fair share of drama and tears in the room of 519, outside of Finley, in the parking garage, the study lounge, the main lounge, and everywhere else that 100 people can see me while I am having a tearful conversation with someone, but I can guarantee that the number of laughs and smiles are greater than the bad times I have had.

Sand Volleyball. I am so glad that those courts got put in because ever since then I have become even closer with all of the amazing people I knew, and some people I hadn’t met yet.

Partying in the Dorm. That was probably the best thing to do on the weekends, I would end up talking to everyone on those nights and it was just the best.

“Study Parties”. A few of these have happened but it’s the weirdest thing... When I leave I almost feel less prepared for that big midterm in the morning but it was so incredibly worth it. I just loved everyone being in the same room and laughing at, essentially, nothing.

This has been an awesome experience for me. I found a group of people that are my very best friends, and we will all continue our adventure through college together next year in some apartments. (Finally!) But I will miss Finley. I won’t miss the bathrooms, showers, or quiet hours, but I will miss the people that inhabit the rooms. I am so glad that I met you guys and I will never forget how great my first year of college was. I am going to miss my new life over summer, but I will see you guys in September when we are older and wiser, and ready to tackle the next year!