Hello and welcome to Tigertown!

As I enter my final semester here at Clemson, I’ve been reflecting on the past three years in a way that only a washed-up senior can. Thinking back to freshman year, the year that ultimately set the tone for the rest of college, I know exactly what I did right and a few things I could have done better.

You’re absolutely sick of hearing this by now, but there’s a reason it’s the most repeated piece of advice for freshmen: join a club. Whichever organization interests you the most is going to attract like-minded people, and Clemson has a little something for everyone. I would be completely, totally lost without the newspaper, and I genuinely don’t ever want to imagine what college would have looked like without The Tiger.

The best way to get a feel for the physical campus itself is to attend any of the 19 varsity sports the University offers throughout the fall, winter and spring seasons. Considering our athletic district sits on the outer ring of campus, if you’re feeling unsure of the general layout around here, attending different games in their respective stadiums is a great way to gain your bearings.

Sit in on a match at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility, pop over to Historic Riggs Field to watch our reigning national champions on the men’s team or College Cup finalists on the women’s team, or head down to the docks to watch the rowing team. Turn around and introduce yourself to the people around you — they might just become your best friends.

My biggest piece of advice, though not necessarily sports or newspaper-related, is that your growth is in your hands. You control the people who have access to you, you control your daily routines and rituals and, ultimately, you control your happiness. Don’t expect perfection — college is no fun if you don’t make mistakes — and don’t let things happen to you; let them happen for you!

Here at Clemson, the days are long, but the years are short. Before you know it, you’re preparing to enter the real world even though you’re pretty sure you just moved into your dorm yesterday. Stop and look around often to remind yourself how lucky you are to be here.

Grace O’Donnell is the editor of the Sports section. She is a senior sports communication major from Allentown, New Jersey. She can be reached at [email protected].