Being a freshman at VCU was a time in my life that I never realized I would miss in some ways. Although it was filled with all-nighters, sharing a room with a complete stranger and communal bathrooms shared with a slew of students, it was a year I will never forget. After going through a year of college, I have made memorable friendships and timeless traditions. My most missed routines with my homies include:
- Going to Eat on Swipes
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Going to Bleeker Street before a night out was a highlight for everyone. Picking out my favorite ingredients to complete my sandwich while chatting with the enthusiastic employees prepared me for the exciting night ahead. Having many food options at our fingertips was a reminder to eat amid a busy schedule.
- Free Water and AC
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This year my friends and I are living in a house together, and boy, the bills pile up. Living in GRC, everything was covered in my housing payment for my first year. This year I am the one who controls how high the bill is. I sure do miss taking a long shower, knowing I won’t be charged. Keeping my dorm room at 65 degrees was also complimentary. Not having to keep track of bills was a luxury that I will miss.
- Living in the Same Building as My Friends
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Usually, before a night out on the town, all I had to do was text that I was ready, and my friends would just have to walk down a few flights of stairs. Having everyone in the same building made it easy to follow through with spontaneous adventures or to simply have lunch. When my friends would pop by unannounced, I would be filled with joy.
- On-Campus Life and Activities
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As a freshman, I enjoyed walking through the club fair and browsing all the ways that I could get involved. Walking through the student commons after class and having a chance to sit down in a building filled with ambitious students motivated me. It is hard during the times of this pandemic to feel that sense of community and know that you are not the only one stressing out. In GRC, every month, each floor would participate in a floor meeting. This was a good opportunity to get to know my classmates and their interests.
- In-Person Classes
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Last year, I had an amazing experience in AFO. I was able to witness demonstrations up close and personal. Instruction from professors was easily retained, and I learned many new techniques that I was later able to incorporate into my art. I was also able to attend many in-person lectures from influential artists that came to VCU to speak about their career.
I was able to soak up a lot of knowledge from my first year here at VCU. I met many prominent artists that opened my eyes to the possibilities of my work. I am now the artist that I am today because of the year that I had at VCU Arts as well as the people that I met along the way.