Last year, I was sitting in my high school English class, watching the rain pour down outside, trying to concentrate, but only able to think about my UA acceptance letter, which was due to arrive any day.  Thoughts raced through my head. “Did they accept me?” “Were my scores good enough?” “How will I pay for UA?”

Just as I was estimating the cost of tuition, the fire alarm blared throughout the building.  A fire alarm ringing — in the middle of a thunderstorm.

“This better not be a drill,” I said to a classmate. After standing outside for several minutes and getting soaked, I found out that it was, in fact, nothing but a routine fire drill. I muttered under my breath, “I cannot wait for college so that unnecessary things like this don’t happen. Everything will be so much more thought out, so much more organized, and there will never be anything so silly as a fire drill in a thunderstorm!”

That night, I received my acceptance letter. I stayed up for hours, looking at every page on the UA website. I completed my Honors College application, took a glance at the housing options, and as an aspiring journalist, I just had to take a peek at The Crimson White online. I was falling more in love with the University of Alabama. It had always been my dream school, and finally, that dream was coming true.

For days, I rambled about how excited I was that I would be attending, in my opinion, the greatest university of all. It was always my plan to major in journalism and my excitement about college only grew when I saw the many courses available to journalism students. I was certain that I was going to love every class.

I was accepted into the Honors College and given the chance to live in one of the nicest dorms on campus. No sharing a bedroom! Only two girls to a bathroom! Hooray! Eventually, it occurred to me that I would live on my own, with no parents. Double hooray! Perhaps every student expects this to be the best part of going off to college.

As the months passed, I continued to find more and more activities that drew my interest. My excitement could not be silenced.

Every person in my life, my school, and probably within 100 miles of my hometown knew where I was going to college, what my major was, and how incredibly eager I was to begin my college life.

Graduation came and went. The summer flew by. Before I knew it, it was August 13. I was moving into my dorm. I finally got everything settled in my room, told my parents goodbye and realized that I have way too many clothes for my closet.

The next week, classes began. My preconceived notions about journalism were right. I immediately loved every class. Each class I attended just confirmed my passion for writing.

I was also right about the many activities I wanted to join, but after “Get On Board Day,” I realized that I had a problem. I am only one person with a mere 24 hours in a day. I sadly came to the conclusion that I could not join every organization and club that struck my interest; thankfully, I was able to narrow it down to a select few. My excitement about the Honors College was also confirmed. It was everything I expected it to be.

In the first weeks of my freshman year, the University has already soared above my every expectation. My classes are interesting, the professors are encouraging, the Honors College is helpful, and even living on my own is intimidating, yet exciting. I miss my friends and family at home every day but I know that I am living my dream. I am fulfilling a lifelong desire to be a student at the University and I am getting a fantastic education.

However, I have experienced one disappointment since arriving here. On Aug.14, I was relaxing in my room after a long day of “Week of Welcome” activities, getting out of the thunderstorm that seemed to never end, when an obnoxious shrieking noise sounded throughout my room. It was none other than the fire alarm.

Of course, it was only a drill — in the middle of a thunderstorm.

Welcome to college.

Kristen Campbell is a freshman majoring in journalism.