If you are anything like me, you spent some time in high school waiting for the next important thing. Experiences would pass me by while I sat there idly, rowing in a sea of thoughts with a broken oar. Too consumed by thoughts of the future, I would miss the present.
Similar to the freshman class of 2024 at Saint Anselm College, my freshman year of high school in 2019 was interrupted by COVID. My timid nature was tested when I realized that the new friendships that I had developed were suddenly cast to the side in favor of Zoom meetings and Netflix watch parties. Time passed, and I moved on from freshman year, unsatisfied with my academic and social circumstances. I decided that the public high school experience was not for me, and I transferred to Saint Thomas Aquinas High School with higher hopes. This was the year I became aware of faith. I was happier there and learned how to put myself out there.
When the time came for college, I knew that picking my locale would be vital to my academic, social, and emotional experience. I felt it when I stepped on the Hilltop at Saint Anselm College for an Open House last October. Home. Faith, community, and security were all things I was looking for, but I did not know the extent to which I would find it.
The two weeks I have spent on the Hilltop have been nothing like what I expected – in the best way possible.
During my sophomore year of high school, when I became aware of faith, I did not know that three years later I would be embracing it. In a way, it almost felt inevitable. The feeling I had about making Saint Anselm my home was that of the pull of the religious community. They are so welcoming and encouraging for those seasoned in their conviction, and those like me who are just opening up to it. I have been to mass four times since arriving on campus and I feel enriched by this experience and hope to pursue it further.
Orientation was a never-ending psychosis of painstaking questions in the same vein as ‘What is your name? Major? Best part of your summer?!’ No matter our shared distaste for the truly bonding experience that are these icebreaking questions, they stand the test of time. I cannot say that I made my best friends during orientation, but rather the people that I met at Anselmian 360 in July have become my closest companions. With these friends, I have been introduced to many new folks who have joined our circle.
During those three days, I felt exhausted, yet exhilarated. We were constantly occupied, moving from one icebreaker to another, to different talks about the academic and social life, all while trying to remember the name of that one girl who held the door for us earlier that day. The second day presented the opportunity for the Brian Maguire Day of Service. Honestly, I was skeptical of what this day would entail. I am no stranger to service and volunteer work, but the lack of knowledge about what our day would look like made me nervous. Echoing the theme of the whole of the college experience, I dove headfirst.
My day of service was at Liberty House, which is a transitional housing and rehabilitation organization designed to assist and empower veterans to get back on their feet. We spent the day cleaning and organizing the spaces. We also had the opportunity to speak to guests. It was really impactful to be able to see how this small act could benefit the team and residents there in real time. The most special thing from this experience was seeing how service is a core value of the Saint Anselm Community and how my peers and leaders all cared about instilling this value in each of us.
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that as a freshman, you cannot expect to have an easy experience if you do not dive headfirst into every aspect of being an Anselmian. I joined SGA’s Respect The Nest committee in an effort to get involved and do my part to keep our beautiful campus clean. Managing homework, committee meetings, and social engagements are skills I am working on, but by focusing on the present and embracing each opportunity, I know I’m doing the best I can and it’s going to be okay.