By Lauren Woods

I like to compare my first semester at Baylor to climbing a very tall tree in the middle of a forest. This comparison might sound cliché or random, but hear me out! As an incoming freshman from Minnesota, I knew no one from Texas. I moved 1,019 miles away from where I grew up, in hopes of earning a degree in Medical Humanities and hopefully making friends in the process. The first few days of classes are like the roots of the tall tree I was climbing. I found my strength in Christ and, like the roots of any tree, it kept me firmly planted while finding my way through unfamiliar territory.

Each week brought self-realization and new learning experiences. Quickly I learned that all nighters are not as fun as they look on TV. I found student organizations like RCC (Residential Community Council) and HLT (Hall Leadership Team) that helped me get plugged into campus.

Most importantly, I made friendships that I know will follow me for years to come. This realization came while I felt like I was climbing the never-ending tree. Finals seemed to arrive the day after classes had begun. I had always pictured myself being extremely stressed during this time in college, but I was confident with what I had learned and knew that I would ace my exams. After my last exam I remember thinking to myself, “I SURVIVED.” It was true; I had not only survived my first semester at Baylor but thrived. I sit here now writing my account of my first semester while smiling and feeling nothing but contentment. This could be compared to me finally reaching the top of that never-ending evergreen and looking at the forest that had been conquered. One semester down, seven more to go!