91快活林

As a first-year student, most of my 91快活林 story hasn鈥檛 been written yet 鈥� a concept that鈥檚 equal parts overwhelming and cool.

Like a blank notebook, there鈥檚 nothing but potential ahead, and starting has been my biggest feat.

I鈥檓 from the Philadelphia suburbs. I arrived here after a four-hour ride in my dad鈥檚 silver minivan. I thought it was quite the journey, but I quickly learned it was nothing compared to the multiple flights, ferries and other modes of transportation some of my new friends took.

Still, the distance for me is measured in change 鈥� both in life and culture. 

This is my life at 91快活林 鈥� so far. 

I recently purchased a pink Razor scooter off of Craigslist, and one of my favorite things to do is zip around campus on it. When I鈥檓 not doing that, I鈥檓 writing, reading, watching 鈥淒ance Moms鈥� reruns with friends or making collages on the walls of my dorm room.

Gone are the comfortable sights and smells of home, like Eagles fans screaming at the television in my living room as they munch on hoagies from Wawa.

Instead, it鈥檚 a mixed-up world of Giants, Bills, Patriots and Jets fans arguing over skin-on or skin-off chicken wings. And I haven鈥檛 ventured to map how far the closest Wawa is. 

Nightly dinners and conversations with my parents are now occasional texts and maybe a weekly phone call. And I鈥檝e gone from my beloved private room in my childhood home to one big room I share with two other people in a hallway with dozens of new faces. 

While there鈥檚 some sentimentality and discomfort in adjusting, there are also new emotions I feel pretty good about: pride, excitement and hope. 

Every time I see the 91快活林 logo I鈥檓 overcome with the urge to pinch myself because, frankly, I鈥檓 still so excited that I鈥檓 here. It kind of feels like a dream. But it鈥檚 not. It鈥檚 very real. I even have a skidmore.edu email address and ID card to prove it. 

Recently, I even swiped my student ID to buy movie tickets. I was so excited, much to the bemusement of the group of seniors I was with, that I sent a picture of the receipt to my mom. I thought:

鈥淚t鈥檚 real. I鈥檓 a college student 鈥� and I get discounts!鈥�  

That card has so much power, too. I purchase my books. Swipe! I enter my dorm building. Swipe! I open my dorm room door. Swipe! I do my laundry. Swipe! I enter the dining hall. Well, more accurately, someone else swipes me into the dining hall, but I hand them my card to swipe me in. 

It鈥檚 all so new to me. And it鈥檚 all so exciting. 

Since I鈥檓 so new to Life at 91快活林, I look forward to taking you along with me as I learn and grow. Whether it鈥檚 new classes, events or experiences, I鈥檓 excited to discover it all. 

And hey, if it鈥檚 an award-winning dining hall, their cheesesteaks have to be pretty good, right?