Leila Durmaz is a journalism freshman and Mustang Daily freshman columnist.
It has been a little more than a month, and I still can’t believe that I go to school here. If you’ve been reading this column, you know that I basically say that statement in one form or another in almost every article, but I have good reason to, I promise.
It’s because we really are in college. We’re on our own, we make our own decisions and we’re no longer pestered by our parents to do this or to do that (maybe).
Just this time last year, the reality of college hit us. College was no longer something we could hide in the back of our minds, but instead, it was something talked about amongst our friends almost every day.
We were bombarded with people asking where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do with our life, and it made us realize that we actually needed to figure it out. We stressed out over choosing the colleges to apply to, making sure we didn’t make any typos on our college applications and bragging about ourselves just the right amount on college essays.
Even after we sent out all those college applications, it wasn’t over. We had to wait until that lucky day when we would receive an acceptance letter in the mail (more like email). This college application process took forever and was possibly one of the most stressful situations for all of us, especially during our senior year in high school when we expected a relaxing year.
It’s weird to think back to those days when we were worrying about how colleges saw us because here we are today, so comfortable in our current situation at Cal Poly.
We all applied to Cal Poly. Maybe it was our top choice, maybe it was our last choice; but whatever number choice it was, we are all here now.
I don’t know about you, but deciding to go to Cal Poly was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Yes, my decision was majorly based on Cal Poly being 10 minutes from the beach (instant hundred points in my book), but it’s the people here that made me love this university even more. Oprah was right, this is the happiest city in America.
As I was walking to Vista Grande today to grab a scramble (which, by the way, is delicious so I suggest you try it) I heard the sound of bike tires on gravel. A few seconds later, a guy who I had never seen before slowed his bike down and paused for a second next to me just to say “Well, good morning!” in a cheery voice. To be honest, I’m not sure if he said that because he was being friendly or because he had mistaken me for someone he knew. But whatever the reason, it was a nice beginning to my day to be greeted so cheerfully.
This is why I love it here. Seriously, every day, someone that I don’t usually see on my way to classes, meals or anywhere else that needs walking to, greets me with a soft smile or a nod. You really don’t see this other places. I think that’s part of the reason why Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo are so unique.
I’ve only been here for seven weeks, so I’m still trying to figure out this lovely campus and town just like the rest of the freshman class. I know that this article isn’t as informational as past ones, but I thought it would be nice to reminisce and realize that we really are in the “happiest city in America.” We’re incredibly lucky to be in such a beautiful town, and I think that’s something we need to be reminded of every now and then.
As I continue my own journey through freshman year trying to figure out campus, find the hidden spots that are popular to locals and so much more, I hope that you do the same because as you’ve probably realized by now, half the quarter is already done with. Freshman year, without a doubt, will go by quicker than we think.
So enjoy every second you have of living in the dorms, eating campus food and getting lost on campus every once in a while. Because before you know it, this year will have flashed before your eyes.