Today is the first day of classes, and so far, so good. However, it’s been a long road to get here.

Last week, I did a pre-orientation program called Endeavor Together. I was put with 10 other freshman and 2 upperclassmen leaders, and we were sent out and about in northeast Iowa. It was a week full of anxiety. I was consistently homesick and I didn’t know how to cope.

I would eventually get to a point where I had to go to the hospital because of a massive panic attack. I don’t say this for your pity. I want you to understand how bad this was. Every day, I would feel out of place, or like I wasn’t part of the group. However, there was a silver lining. I made new friends. More than that, I found my second family. My group members helped carry me to the car when I was too anxious to move. My group members greeted me with hugs and love when I arrived back from the hospital. My group members became those I could trust and depend on.

This program was an amazing introduction to Luther College and the surrounding area. I am so glad I did it, and I am so glad I have all these new friends to share my experience with.

It is so important that you have good friends in life, and I am just now discovering why. You need a strong support system for times when you feel like you can’t go on. You need a network of family and friends to guide you along your way when it feels like you’re stumbling around in the dark. So find your people. Find your group and hold on tight.