Loyola continues to exceed my expectations in terms of a campus, community, and education. The campus is kept clean and nicely decorated for the holidays. I didn’t expect a big tree in damen or the decorations around the outside of the school. Furthermore, the staff is very friendly and makes the transition to college effortless. The teaching assistants made the class more enjoyable and much more clear. The biggest surprise was the dining hall staff. Many of them make my day with their humorous comments and brighten my day. My semester went as I planned and made finals less stressful. I worked very hard every week and put a lot of time and thought into all my work. In highschool, I didn’t have the desire to put in this much effort on a daily basis; however, now I am self-motivated and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am only a few steps into my tunnel, but every week the light gets brighter and brighter. My grades are one of my biggest accomplishments and drive my desire to succeed. Equally as important, I still had time to visit my family and friends and maintain strong connections back home. If I could redo my first semester, I would’ve signed up for an earlier orientation. Having an earlier orientation would’ve given me a better schedule as a commuter and more options. I attained many of my goals; however, I wish I would’ve had more time to go to the pool. I miss being a part of a team and competing physically. I was a state swimmer and an all-sectional athlete in water polo. The water polo team meets at 11 at night making it nearly impossible to attend as a commuter who lives more than an hour away. At the beginning of the year, I didn’t know what to expect, especially on exams. Going into my first exam I was very nervous, but now exams are a simple routine. Friends also played a large role in my studies since I study well in groups. I have made many new friends since orientation which I didn’t think was possible as a commuter. The commutes are long, but relaxing and a great time to clear my mind. As much as I like the commute, I can’t wait for a month break.