The Start of a New Chapter

From the minute my family left after helping me move into Race Hall, I felt several different emotions. I was excited because the first day of my new chapter in life had begun. I was nervous because I was alone. I was guarded because I didn't know how to act or what the right thing to say was in front of all these new people. I was confused because everything just seemed so surreal. Being a freshman in a completely new environment, surrounded by people I have never encountered before was something that I was prepared for coming in. However, what I didn't account for was how to handle all the differences of the environment and emotions I would feel after leaving my comfort zone of a small town in New Jersey.

Coming to a city, I learned that I had some growing up to do.

It's crazy to think that one day you are living your life exactly how you're used to and then the next day you're in a completely new environment, surrounded by not only new people but also different smells and unfamiliar noises. Growing up in a small, secluded town, everyone in the town pretty much knows each other. It's not uncommon to start conversation with a random person at the supermarket or even ask someone you hadn't met before for a lift home. However, coming to a city, I learned that I had some growing up to do. I could no longer be the naïve little girl that followed the same structure for the last eighteen years of my life. Even though Philadelphia is a beautiful city, I still had to take into account the cultural differences from my little town, which I have been so used to, and start getting accustomed to the amazing, vibrant culture in Philadelphia.