As the school year begins to shift into its routine for returning students, one is certain to see more than a few unfamiliar faces in the crowd. However, those new to campus may find the first few weeks daunting. With time, dedication and the occasional bit of help, though, many of these new Ravens will soon be thinking of campus as their second home.
Take the experience of freshman Caleb Savage for example. “I heard about [Anderson University] from a friend who was originally going to join the swim team,” he said. “She had offered it and [said,] ‘Hey, there’s a place here, and they’ve got a really great school, a really great swim team and they’re looking for swimmers.’ So, I came to visit, talked with the coaches and a bunch of the teachers and thought, ‘This place is amazing, and I love it.’”
Savage eventually enrolled, and soon it was time to move in. Because he comes from Kettering, Ohio, he will be one of the hundreds of Anderson students who will be away from family and relying on student housing. Fortunately he has not been alone.
An outgoing personality and status as a “big talker” helped Savage break down the initial walls of awkwardness when it came to meeting people. “I’m the one who goes up and says, ‘Hi, I’m Caleb,’ and I get to know everybody,” he said. These friendships have supported him in times when he has needed help, like when a sophomore let Savage borrow his printer.
Once classes began, Savage also had the opportunity to get to know his teachers. “I like the teachers,” he said. “They all seem really nice and caring, and all the faculty and staff around here are really helpful… [I’m] definitely liking Dr. Carr’s class, which is General Chemistry.”
Not everything about Savage’s college life is brand new, though; he has been able to carry one of his biggest interests into this new phase of his life: swimming. Even though the season only started only recently, he’s been practicing in the Bennett Natatorium pool since he arrived. He said, “My parents made me do [swimming] at first, but I ended up just loving the experience of dropping time and going faster at each race.” He is also considering getting involved in other campus sports teams, including track and intramural ultimate frisbee.
Savage has also already been lucky enough to find a favorite spot on campus to relax in the times between the busyness of classes and sports. “There’s this little place behind Decker,” said Savage. “It’s just a patio with some chairs and stuff, but that place is really nice if you just want to sit and enjoy the view of the valley. That’s probably one of my favorite things that I discovered here.”