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As I drove toward upstate New York for my first semester of college, I felt both excited and nervous. Nearing Syracuse University’s campus, I felt eager and prepared. I was coming to school early for cross country team camp.

I loaded my car to the brim with boxes, worried about how I’d fit everything inside my room. As the year comes to a close and I pack up the boxes again, I’ve reflected on the full-circle ups and downs of my freshman year.

Being on SU’s cross country team made the jump from fresh high school graduate to first-year college student feel less daunting. When classes started, I already had about 20 people I could look to for advice — but I still felt alone.

The greatest struggles came from my housing assignment. It’s unconventional for freshmen to live on South Campus, leaving me in a different environment than most. I didn’t stay in the dorms, share a room or spend my time on Marshall Street. Instead, I spent much of my time on ordering takeout from Mr. Stirfry on Tecumseh Street.

But living on South Campus has unexpected advantages that made the transition into college easier than I anticipated.

Having grown up in a college town in West Virginia, I thought I had an idea of what SU would be like. But I was wrong. When I got to campus, and even months later, I still didn’t feel comfortable.

Having a car because of my housing assignment allowed me to explore off of Syracuse’s campus in a way that most other freshmen don’t get to experience. I saved plenty of money on DoorDash just by driving to restaurants, and I could go bowling at Destiny USA without the added Uber charges.

When the start of classes neared, anxiety started to stir about big lecture halls. I didn’t like the idea of being surrounded by hundreds of strangers. For my whole life, I’d known everyone in my classes, and I was afraid my attention would waver with so many new distractions.

Even though I struggled to adjust to new academic expectations, living on South provided me with unmatched peace and quiet that I needed to maintain focus. I liked being tucked away from chaotic dorm culture.

As winter break came and went, I dreaded coming back to SU. But soon enough, I loaded up my car and made the drive up north again. Starting school again was a kick in the teeth, especially with the weather. Yet, weeks started going by faster as I gained more footing with time.

I started to feel like I really belonged and SU became home. It was nice knowing how to get to Trader Joe’s on my own, when to head to the bus stop and the general idea of where my classes were.

The sun was finally out and glaring, and it was so nice to be outside and wear shorts with my friends, playing spikeball and even having a barbeque. This is when I finally realized how much I enjoy SU’s environment and how fortunate I am to experience such a distinctive freshman year.

It’s so fulfilling to have the freedom to walk down to my closest friends’ apartments and play games in their backyard. And having not only fellow students living on South, but also everyone on my team coming to visit, represents an invaluable community and time period in my life.

It helps me realize the opportunities for connection provided by what I once thought was just inconvenient and unconventional housing. I can now see how far I’ve come since the first time I set foot on campus, and I feel genuinely comfortable in the space I occupy.

In fact, I now feel so secure I decided not to leave when my classes finish. I want to stick around for two more weeks to appreciate campus. The spring made me excited for what’s to come next year, and I feel prepared to take on whatever challenges confront me in sophomore year.

Drew Zundell is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. He can be reached at djzundel@syr.edu.

Published on April 21, 2025 at 11:32 pm