The drive up here was relatively boring and long, hauling all the way from Eastern Mass. I was shoved in the backseat with a good portion of all the stuff that we had packed in the car the night before.

The four-and-a-half hours were filled with a lot of reading and lots of music, but I can’t forget all of the Facebook lives that my stepmom had been doing all day.

In all of the bustle between parents’ heartfelt goodbyes and children trying to move all of their stuff into their dorm rooms, the campus can be compared to a zoo.

As I took up what I could to my room, I looked out the window and could see all the students still trying to move everything in.

I found on my way down that a couple of the football players had taken it upon themselves to help me take all of my stuff up to my room without me even asking.

Through all of the chaos of moving in and decorating my room, it was a relatively good day.

Saying goodbye to my mom one last time was eventful.

We stood there for what seemed like a lifetime but in reality, it was just a few minutes before my stepmom peeled us away before my mom could cry a river.

But it was alright because over the few days prior when we were saying our goodbyes, and we had cried so much that it felt like I couldn’t cry anymore.

Learning all the names when you’re in Playfair and during all of the SOS meetings are hard enough when you don’t know anyone but it’s even harder when you’re shy. When you’re in a strange place not knowing anyone or where to go is a scary thing.

To be honest I’m not sure how I ended up with the friends that I have now but I’m so glad it happened because I don’t think I would be able to survive the year without them.

Over the past two weeks classes have not been bad.

I was told that college would be harder than high school and I that know as soon as the semester picks up more, I will probably get more frazzled and anxious as the workload gets heavier.

Over the years when I was younger, I was not a good test-taker. I would be able to participate in class and answer questions but as soon as I took a quiz or a test, I would think that I knew the answer only to receive not the best grade in the end.

But I know that in college I will be able to have more one-on-one help with my professors because there are smaller classes here than back home. And I am grateful for that because I found out that I learn better in smaller class settings.

I felt like I was on top of the world that day, knowing that when I was asked to see my professor after class I wasn’t getting into trouble and getting an A instead.

As I walked into the newspaper office, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face as I burst out and screamed “I GOT MY FIRST A!”

It felt like a dream to finally get a grade that I had no help on and that I could be proud of all on my own.

– Kiara Wood

Being a freshman in college is tough. You’re in a new place with a bunch of people you’ve never met before.

As a commuter, who went to school with the same people for twelve years, I’ve personally found that life has become a little more hectic than it used to be.

I don’t have my own car, so I have to rely on either my parents or my older brother who also goes to school here at Castleton for a ride.

In my opinion, being a commuter can be just a little bit difficult when it comes to making friends or adapting to a new school.

A friend of mine, who is also a commuter, had exactly one word to say on what being a commuter is like; “exhausting.”

And she’s right.

Having to wake up just a touch earlier than you really want to, so you can make it to class on time, trying to find a way around the roadwork that’s currently happening on Route 30, which means having to wake up even earlier.

Being a commuter isn’t all bad though, because, I still get to go home every evening and see my family and my pets.

Yes, being a commuter can be difficult, but, with time to adjust, it’s actually not bad at all.

– Deirdre Thacker