Loyola’s out-of-state freshmen have recently left the comfort of their homes to live and learn in one of the most unique cities in the nation. Last year, I made a huge transition when I moved from the busy city life in Atlanta to the historical, culture-filled New Orleans.

My freshman year was spent adjusting to the craziness of campus life in this city.

The difficulty of learning my way around a totally new city was one thing, but figuring out how to get through college was what was really tough.

Like every other student, I had to figure out how to do many simple things like how to withdraw from classes and where to go to put money on my Express Card.

I also had to figure out social situations such as finding the French Quarter and which bars I could and could not get into.

I definitely did a lot of asking around. I even once asked an older student what a po-boy was. I would have loved to have someone who had been around Loyola for a few years to help me out.

Fortunately, some students have an older sibling nearby to provide little bits of guidance when necessary.

Other students enjoy having upperclassmen friends as their student mentors.

“I like having familiar faces around campus,” said freshman Chris Eakin. “Kelly Phillips (sophomore) and I went to high school together. If it wasn’t for her I would not have known what things like Swamp Stomp or Red Tide were.”

He said that Kelly convinces him to attend various school functions and encourages him to join organizations.

Having an older student around, whether it be a sibling or a friend, has many perks.

I know that if I had a mentor last year, I probably would have had a much easier time.

My younger sister Ashley is a new student at Loyola. I have been able to give her advice on things that I was clueless about when I was a freshman.

I like having her around because having family here makes New Orleans seem more like home.

So freshmen, if you don’t have an older Loyola student to go to, I suggest you get to know one.

There are plenty of them out there, so why not take advantage of their experience?

A mentor may make your college experience even better.