I was raised in Princeton, a small town where everybody’s name is ingrained in your memory by grade school and you can always count on a quick arrival to any destination due to the fact that there are only two major stoplights. My imagination and yearning for adventure are the products of growing up on a cattle farm outside the city lines.

In 2014, I packed my bags and headed off to The Gatton Academy. It was my chance to break the tight bonds of a small town and to explore a new world where I would be challenged and among likeminded students.

When my mom would call and ask how the Academy was on a scale of 1 to 10, I would always reply, “10.” I loved every minute of my first year. I was quickly immersed in the cultures of both Gatton and Western Kentucky University. When I wasn’t studying or doing homework, I would hang out with friends or binge watch an assortment of Netflix shows (because if you watch Grey’s Anatomy you are basically a surgeon, right?). I met some of my best friends over the course of a year. It is hard not to become close when you live under the same roof. Late night dance parties, cookie pizza runs, and treks around campus became normal everyday life activities.

The Gatton Academy may have the stereotypical reputation in which everyone slaves over schoolwork and never sees daylight in order to master various subjects, but that is far from the truth. I have laughed more than ever, danced more than ever, and discussed truly interesting topics more than ever. The Academy is just as social as it is academic.

I look forward to spending my last year soaking up every moment. I always loved sharing my experience at the Academy with friends and family back home and I now have the opportunity to speak to various students, parents, and others interested in learning more about my school. I cannot wait to begin my senior year and am excited to see what the new school year will bring.