Things I’ll Miss About this Year that I Haven’t Noticed Yet (Freshman Edition)
Written by Elisa Diaz. Graphic by Ananya Panchal.
Each week is something new: a new project, new method, new skill, new place, new people. The past four weeks have been incredibly overwhelming for me as someone who rarely left her room back in Florida. My first week here was about learning balance, bonding with my roommates while finding time to call my family, being present in class and productive with my work while still making time for my own art, and learning how to budget while traveling on my own, always rethinking my choices. I have never been more stressed out in my life. Yet, I have never been happier.
Every day I wake up, get breakfast, and go to my classes. After that, the rest of the day is mine. It is my first quarter at SCAD, and Savannah already feels like home. I have a favorite street, a favorite restaurant, and my favorite people. Broughton Street, one of the most colorful roads I have seen here, is always filled with people from all walks of life, carrying bags from Urban Outfitters or Blick. My favorite solo date is visiting Avalon, an incredible thrift store that actually has affordable pricing. Then, going right next door to Sushi Hana, my favorite restaurant, and while it’s pricey as sushi always is, the rolls are ginormous and insanely delicious. When it’s time to go back to the dorm, the walk with one Airpod in is the most blissful part of the day.
Once I unlock my door, I get to hear the chaos that is my roommates, my favorite people in this city. If I can give one piece of advice to any student here, it would be to make an effort to be friends with your roommates. I am surviving college because of mine. They are the kindest, funniest, most supportive and honestly psychotic people I have ever met, and I love them for it. All of my favorite moments here exist because of them. They introduced me to Avalon, walked with me throughout the city, went out to dinner with me, stayed up with me late into the night. Without them I would be completely alone. But with their support, I know I will make my time here worth it.
It is only my first quarter here, but from what I hear from other students, the next 11 will fly by. My only hope is that I appreciate every second of it.
