I will miss it here -- coffee

I'm graduating soon. It's sad, true.

When I came here as a freshman I knew I loved it, even though it didn't love me. 

Everyone else seemed to come with their high school friends and had cliques pre-planned. I was from out of state and alone.

Since then I've become editor of my paper, executive news producer of two news TV shows, worked as an RA, fought off policemen in self defense classes, tamed a race horse for the school, went to plenty of hockey games, wrote lots of stories, etc. I've lived and grown up a bit.

And today I realized it. 

My friends make fun of me sometimes for being famous. I'm not. But on campus I do know a lot of people. When I go to meetings and someone says "Hi, Heather" I get a response from the person next to me "Are you Heather Steeves?" I'm getting used to saying "no." now, as it tends to keep me out of trouble. But I get that at least once a week.

Anyway. Today between classes I headed for my usual: an amoretto cream latte from the Oakes Room. 

"Hey Heather," my roommate Seth said.

"Hi."

Behind him I spotted Erik. He was someone I missed seeing ever since our creative nonfiction class ended. I went over to talk to him.

Ashley and Corey were sitting at the next table. They got up.

"I have to go. They're in my class," I told Erik. 

"Oh, you're going to walk with them?"

"No," I said, probably snootily. "But it means I have to go soon."

I started to traverse the backpacks, laptop chords and Odwalla wrappers to the exit.

Then I saw Matt Mac. 

"Hey Matt."

"Hey Heather."

Almost out Jeff Hake ran at me. I do mean ran at me. He kept blocking my way out, like a scrawny football player. I weaved passed him and ran into Danielle, who hit me with a stack of papers as a sort of "hello."

I literally ran out of the room and into the much safer, less populated atrium. 

I made it to class caffeinated, on time and knowing I've made some sort of impact here.