So far, my college experience has been life-changing. Although I have only been at USD for two weeks now, I feel as though I have gained an entirely new outlook on the world and have become an entirely new person. In high school, it almost felt as though I was carrying a weight on my shoulders. I felt pressured to act a certain way, uphold a certain reputation, fit a certain prototype, and surround myself with certain people. While doing all of these things I certainly felt a sense of security, however my version of ‘fitting in’ held very little value. Now, with an overwhelming amount of freedom in an exceptionally welcoming environment, I am able to embrace who I am and shape myself into who I want to be. Ultimately, I have found a new home here at USD.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"