Freshman of Castleton: We did it! It is officially the last week of our first year at Castleton State College. Now all we have to do is get through exams.

When I first started this column, I was extremely worried that people simply wouldn’t care. I wasn’t sure how many people actually read the school paper, let alone my tiny section.

But then I saw people all over campus with newspapers in their hands and I thought, “OK, they are reading the paper, and my column is in there, so that means they might be reading it right now!”

The best part about “Fresh Perspective” for me was when my article about Soundings was quoted in an all-freshman lecture by one of the school’s deans. Even though I wasn’t there to see it or stand up when he called out and asked if I was there, I was honored that he thought what I wrote was worth sharing.

Students and faculty came up to me all that day and told me what a great job I did and how great they thought my article was. I was flattered and completely shocked. When I first started, I told myself that as long as one person was impacted, it would be worth continuing.

Although it is the final article for this year, I will still be around next semester too. I know, you were all so worried.

Instead of writing about the roller coaster of the life of a freshman, next semester I will be writing from Malaga, Spain where I will be studying abroad.

This is something I am extremely passionate about, so I am stoked that I get to still write for The Spartan while I am away.

In life, I think it is very important to take every great opportunity that comes your way. For me, it started when I was a senior in high school and I came to visit the communication department at Castleton because I was still unsure about where I wanted to go.

One of the major reasons I chose this school was because I was not only offered a spot on the paper when I came here, but I was given the opportunity to write an article for the paper when I was still in high school.

I am so extremely grateful for every opportunity that has presented itself to me during my first year at this school. It is helping me grow into the person I want to be, and allowing me to have the time of my life. I know I’m not alone in this either.

I know this is probably arguable, but I think that this freshman class made a huge splash at Castleton. We are indeed a rowdy bunch, but we are also passionate, driven, and fearless.

I am proud to be a member of this freshman class and proud to be a Spartan.

I couldn’t think of a better way of ending the “Fresh Perspective” series then by thanking all of you for sticking with me this far, and for all of your compliments and acknowledgments. I have known for a while that news is something I want to do, and you guys are giving me the first few steps I need to make this my life.

Signing off for now. I will be back again, but this time from Spain.

-Carly Trombley