Calling UW Home

I did not think college would be all that different from high school, but I was wrong, and I’m glad I was. College introduced me to a level of independence that I had never experienced before. There wasn’t someone helping me wake up or get to class. I had to learn how to manage my own time and balance everything in my life. 

That freedom was exciting, but it could also be intimidating. During the first few weeks, I was trying to figure out where I belonged. Saddle Up helped me prepare for my first week of classes, especially since I had a course similar to what I was going to take that first semester. I felt confident after Saddle Up because I was able to get a feel of the routine I was going to have in college. As confident as I was, I still doubted how I would get involved. I knew that I wanted to be part of something, meet new people, and find a community, but I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for.  One of the biggest steps toward answering that question for myself was going through fraternity recruitment. 

Before coming to college, I didn’t fully understand how much joining Greek life could shape someone’s experience.  I was a little timid about the idea of rushing, and it was nerve-racking to start. I was introducing myself to new people while trying to decide where I could fit. I was thankful for both the Meet the Chapters dinner and Cowboy Carnival because they helped me get a feel for what that week was going to be like. I’m thankful for two of my now brothers, Nathan M. and Abbott B. They took the time to meet me during both events and were familiar faces during recruitment. 

I was not simply looking for a group of people to spend time with. I wanted to find people who would support me, challenge me, and accept me for who I was. That was what I began to find in Sigma Chi. 

My conversations with members of Sigma Chi felt genuine. I could see that the chapter offered more than social events. This wasn’t like the stereotypes I had heard about joining a Fraternity. It was a brotherhood that offered leadership opportunities, real connections, and the chance to become something larger than myself. I felt welcomed by the members who showed me what comes with being in a Fraternity. It meant contributing to the chapter, supporting the people around me, and continuing to grow into a better version of myself. 

Accepting my bid to Sigma Chi became one of the defining moments of my freshman year. At the time, I knew I was joining a Fraternity, but I didn’t understand how much that would influence my time here at UW. People who were strangers at the beginning of the semester slowly became people I saw every day. They became friends I could laugh with, turn to for support, and create memories with. 

Of course, joining a fraternity didn’t mean that every day suddenly became easy. I still had moments when I felt stressed, homesick, or unsure of myself. I still had assignments to finish and everything else going on in my life. The difference was that I no longer felt like I had to navigate these moments alone. 

Brotherhood began to show up in both the exciting moments and the ordinary ones. It was present in fraternity events, shared meals, late-night talks, and the simple feeling of walking into a room and knowing the people there were happy to see me. It was also having a group that encouraged me to get more involved and gave me opportunities to step outside my comfort zone. Those everyday experiences helped turn UW from the place where I went to college into a community where I genuinely belonged. 

As I became more comfortable, I also began looking for additional ways to become involved on campus. I started attending Ethics + Sales club meetings and found a love for Sales because of it. Getting involved allowed me to meet even more people. I started learning that college is not only about what happens in the classroom. Instead, some of the most important lessons come from the organizations you join, the responsibilities you accept, and the chance to learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible. 

Most importantly, I became more confident in who I was. College allowed me to introduce myself without being limited by who people thought I had been before. At UW, I had the freedom to grow, explore my interests, and become involved in communities that reflect my values. The more I let myself participate, the more connected I felt to campus. There wasn’t just one moment when UW had suddenly become home. Instead, it was a journey of smaller moments that grew into a feeling. It happened when I stopped needing directions to class. It happened when I knew faces in every class, time spent with my brothers, and the memories I created that first year. Eventually, returning to Laramie no longer felt like leaving home. It felt like coming back to another one. 

That realization taught me that home is not limited to one address or one hometown. Casper will always be my main home and an important part of my life. It holds the memories that I love, and it’s where my family is. But calling UW home doesn’t replace that connection. Instead, it means that I have found another place where I feel supported, valued, and able to be myself. 

If I could speak to myself on day one or give any advice I have for freshmen, I would say that it is okay to feel overwhelmed and that no one has everything figured out, even if it appears that way. I would tell you to say yes to everything and introduce yourself to new people. It will take a moment to find that sense of belonging, but when you do, you realize it was worth the wait. The most important thing is that UW will eventually become much more than the university you attended. It becomes a place you call home. Home is more than the place listed on an address; it is where people notice when you are missing, celebrate when you succeed, and stand beside you when life becomes difficult. It is where you are challenged to grow while still being accepted for who you are. Through my friends, my fraternity brothers, my campus involvement, and the many experiences of my first year, that is exactly what I found at the University of Wyoming. 

Looking back, I barely recognize the nervous student who arrived at Downey Hall with too many belongings and no idea what the year would bring. My freshman year pushed me outside of my comfort zone. It taught me how to be independent while also showing me the importance of relying on others. It gave me friendships, leadership opportunities, and experiences that helped shape me into the person I am becoming. That is how an unfamiliar campus became my community, and how I learned to call UW home.