Ohio to the Bayou

Part 2

Today is the day! I'm officially moving to Louisiana. Am I scared? Absolutely. Do I have everything figured out? Not quite. But I'm taking it all in stride. It's July 20th, and although I'm moving in early, it's because I need to be on campus before football practice starts. That means I'll be spending these first few days surrounded by football players. Not exactly my idea of a good time, but it's all part of the adventure.

I've got two full days to get everything unpacked and settled in, which is actually a bit more time than I expected. I'm moving into the football dorm, and since I'm the only girl working with the team, there's a bit of a unique twist—I'll need to be fitted for dresses that coordinate with their suits. Not that I have any trouble pulling off a dress, but it's an extra step in an already busy schedule.

As I pull up to the dorm building on main campus, I can't help but feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. My parents are busy helping my sister move cross-country, so I'm on my own for this move. The thought of being alone in a new city is both thrilling and nerve-wracking.

I walk into the main entrance and head to the desk in the middle of the lobby. "Hi, I'm the freshman moving in today," I say to the woman behind the counter.

She looks up and asks, "Is your name by any chance Emory Elliott?"

"That's me!" I reply, relieved to be in the right place.

She glances at her computer and then back at me. "Why are you in the football building, dear? Normally they don't have girls rooming with the football team."

I smile and explain, "I'm working as the new photographer for the team."

Her eyebrows raise slightly, but she nods. "Well, you're going to be surrounded by these smelly guys all year. Good luck!"

I chuckle and respond, "Yep, but it's all part of the deal. Thanks so much for your help!"

She returns my smile. "If you need anything—nail salons, hairdressers, literally anything—just let me know."

"I'll definitely take you up on that soon!" I say, feeling a bit more at ease.

With that, I head back to my car, grab the boxes I can reach, and start hauling them up the stairs to my new dorm. As I'm making my way inside, I hear the rumble of two cars pulling up outside. I push open the door to my room and carefully set the boxes down, then head back out to grab more.

As I prop the door open to make my next trip easier, I can't help but think about the new chapter that's starting. The campus is slowly coming alive with other students arriving, and I'm about to dive into this new adventure.

The next couple of days will be busy, but I'm determined to make the most of it. Maybe I'll even get to know those "smelly" football players a little better and find my way around Baton Rouge. Here's to new beginnings and the exciting journey ahead!