The college application process was probably one of the most anxiety-ridden experiences of my entire life. 

It was very competitive. It felt as though everyone was expecting something of me, wanting to know every detail of where I wanted to apply, what my GPA was and how many schools I had gotten accepted into. It was an extremely overwhelming process. 

I heard back from a bunch of schools, but the one I had always imagined I’d go to ended up rejecting me. I felt apathetic about the whole process and didn’t have any motivation to continue planning for my next four years. 

Everything changed the day I toured St. Joe’s. I had never been on Hawk Hill before, and  honestly had no idea what to expect. As I went on my tour of campus, it slowly became clear to me that I had found the perfect fit. 

My parents and I gave each other a knowing look as we walked through the courtyard of the famous Barbelin Hall. It all felt right.

 I committed to going to St. Joe’s shortly after the tour and was proud to say I was a Hawk from there on out. However, that’s not the part of the story that really had an impact on me.

Ever since I moved into McShain Hall in August, my life has been a blur. It’s been a mix of emotion as I moved away from my old life and tried to make a new start here. 

Of course, there have been hard moments. It’s very jarring to move to a completely different place, especially after spending my senior year doing online school from my bedroom at home. I was always so terrified that when I came to college, I would lose touch with who I was. I loved my life at home and I didn’t want to start over completely.

But the important thing is that the good far outweighs the bad. 

Being an only child, I’m very close with my parents and friends. I have a very tight knit community at home. I was worried that when I came here, I would lose touch with that part of my life. But the opposite was true. 

Ever since I moved in, I felt like I’ve recreated that “family unit” I always had back home here at St. Joe’s. I know that the friends that I’ve made here so far will always be a part of my life.

That’s what is so special about St. Joe’s. The people here are like family. It feels like home. Of course every college describes itself as a “community,” but at St. Joe’s, that statement is entirely true. 

Every person I’ve met has had a positive impact on me: from my orientation leaders  to the random person who holds the door for me on the way to class.

Our campus has such good energy that anyone can feel. Although this transition has been new and scary, the community and spirit at St. Joe’s makes me feel comfortable, as if this is always where I was meant to be.