5

C ollege is a whole new world. I spent the weeks before class started just getting a feel of the area and getting used to being around so many people all the time.

While I was able to do a lot of exploring of the grounds, the real wonder set in when classes finally began and I got to look around inside more of the buildings. Like the outsides, they kept the old, historic look going but obviously kept up well with the maintenance and paint to keep it looking sparkly clean. You can see the inspiration for some of the older European structures in their designs. While my parents' work was focused around nature and wildlife, we made time to see the sights in the areas we traveled too.

Though most of the buildings had lots of historic features from the time they were built, they kept up with modern needs as well. There were LED screens scattered through the halls, advertising different teams and clubs. The old concrete floors had a fresh, waxy shine to them. There were even electronic charging stations with the cords already available for anyone who needed a quick charge; they kind of looked like the little stands you see in airports.

The buzz of the narrow hallways full of people was also a completely new experience for me, as I had never been to school. The first couple of days were really overwhelming, and I had to work myself out of a panic attack.

Once I got a little more used to it, my body relaxed into the routine. I had to convince myself that I wasn't being ambushed for no reason; this was just how it was between classes when everyone was just working on getting from one place to another. It wasn't like this before classes began because everyone was just kind of meandering around like I was. Now everyone is always in a rush, and it's just so loud.

Zoey's and my immediate connection hasn't faded, and I will forever be grateful to the universe for giving her to me after feeling so alone. We spend all of our extra time together studying, trying food from all the different restaurants on campus, drinking coffee, and watching our favorite comfort movies.

When classes started, I was super stressed out about how to go about all of this. I know college is new for everyone, but almost everyone else went to school while I was traveling the world with my parents. I still don't regret growing up that way, but the acclimation process was heavier than I anticipated. I never thought I was missing out on anything, but looking back now, maybe I was, and I never really acknowledged it.

We're a couple weeks into school now, and I think I've gathered a decent grasp on things. My favorite class is my Intro to Photography class that I have with Zoey. The professor is kind and animated, and he makes us laugh. We're still in the throes of all the boring parts of class, but I can't wait to really hit the ground running.

I'm thankful for Zoey for more than just our friendship. She is such a social butterfly and doesn't seem to know much about stranger danger. She can carry on a conversation with anyone about anything. Mostly, I just observe from the background, but she has managed to pull me into a few colorful conversations. She's made it her personal mission to help me become better at socializing. It looks so easy when she does it, but my words get caught in my throat, and I curl in on myself. Mom and Dad always made it look easy, too. We didn't engage with a lot of people, but they handled it a lot like Zoey does. The way she easily volleys the conversation back and forth, smoothly transitioning between topics of conversation, is its own form of art that I'd like to learn.

My photojournalism class is more my speed. It's calmer and quieter, and Professor Sinclair is a small woman with warm ebony skin, kind eyes, and wildly fun natural hair. Her approach to teaching is also more in line with the way I work. She doesn't drill us quite so hard with the technical side of things that we can read about in our textbooks. She believes that to truly learn and grow in your skills, you have to do the work.

To reinforce her feelings on this, she's throwing us to the wolves right out of the gate. There are a ton of sports teams in the area. Between the professional teams, the college teams, and multiple sports seasons overlapping, there is apparently a lot going on. My parents and I were never sporty people in the way that some people have favorite teams or know all the rules. I'm going to have to do a lot of my own research on this assignment as well. I guess with all the different sports going on, some teams are finishing their season already, some are in the off-season, and others are getting ready to kick off a new season.

Professor Sinclair was able to secure enough press badges and appointments for each of us to interview and photograph a team for our first big assignment. A lot of the guys and locals in class know exactly who they want to interview, but it was harder for me. My dad watched the big sports finales, like the Superbowl and the World Cup, I think it's called, but we were animal and nature people, so I never got into the whole organized sports hype.

After my research, I decided I wanted a sport that was about to start. I felt like the interview would be calmer in preparation for a season to begin than it would be at the end of one, or if I tried to jump into something mid-season. That way, I could maybe also follow the team, learn the game, and continue to use the same team for future assignments. I know I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but that's my dad's planning side shining through. This led me to choose hockey. Apparently, this local professional team was a pretty big deal; I signed up for that one along with most of the class.

Today was the day Professor Sinclair was handing out our chosen assignments. We had to write a paper explaining why we should get the team we wanted, our planned interviews, and our intentions. We were also asked to write about ourselves. Who we were before college and what we hoped to gain from our education. I felt like my paper was more about my parents than me, but it also portrayed all the things I needed people to understand about me.

As class ended, we were all still anxiously awaiting our assignments. It looked like everyone else, like me, expected to be told at the beginning of the class so we could start planning, but she had other ideas. Nearing the end of class, Professor Sinclair finally gathered our attention. "As I call your name, you will come to the front, accept your assignments, and you are then dismissed for the day. I know we had a lot of people sign up for the same teams. I want no trading, bickering, or foul attitudes. You will not always get the assignments you want in your career, and those should be handled with the same diligence and respect as your first choice."

Everyone just nodded.

She began calling names. Some people were pleased with themselves, while others were clearly trying to mask their disappointment. She wasn't calling us in any particular order. I didn't know when it would be my turn, but I would apparently be all the way down the line. I wasn't used to that either. With the last name Adams, I was used to being called first or close to it.

I was the last one left in the room when Professor Sinclair called me to the front with tears in her eyes. Oh no, please, no more pity.

"Leera, when I saw your name on my roster, I wouldn't allow myself to believe it was you," she said, looking at my assignment in her hands.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I don't understand," I said low and uncomfortably.

She shook her head as if trying to fling away forgotten memories. "I went to university with your parents. They were my best friends. After they had you, they became quite reclusive, and I didn't hear or see from them as much, but I always followed their career."

Whatever I had thought she would say could never amount to the words she left hanging in the air. I found myself again unable to form a response. A large knot of emotion lodged itself in my throat and I begged myself not to get upset. She seemed to notice my discomfort, shook off her own emotion, and returned to her quiet bubbly self.

"I'm sorry, Leera. I was so upset when I heard about their deaths, but I want you to know I'm here if you need anything. I gave you the assignment you asked for, but I made you last on my list so we could talk about it and no one would get worked up over it. I didn't give you the assignment you requested because of your parents, though. I gave it to you based on the assignment. The written explanations I requested from you all were kind of like job applications. Your application was the best for the job. You'll be covering Mogadore's hockey team. Your interview is scheduled for next week. The coach and the starting six players have agreed to meet with you."

I so badly wanted to say thank you, but my body wouldn't allow it. I nodded and made eye contact, hoping my eyes said thank you for me, and walked out the door. I kept walking until I found my favorite study spot under the weeping willow tree. I slowly sank to the ground and focused on trying to calm my aching heart.

I don't know how much time had passed, but I was feeling more myself and had processed all the information to the best of my ability. I didn't want to act differently with Professor Sinclair because I didn't want anyone to think she was playing favorites with me. I also didn't know her. But I could get to know her and have another person in my corner. Right now, I need to focus on my assignment. A lot of people will be upset that I am assigned to work with the Predators, which is why I am going to have to prove myself.

I pull myself to my feet, grab all my stuff off the ground, walk over to Cool Beans to grab an afternoon pick-me-up, and head back to our room. I have an interview to plan. This interview, if I handle it right, could set me up on my projects for this class, and possibly my photography class, for quite a bit of the year, maybe even longer. Hell, I might even find a love for hockey.