Inside the main building, there were a lot less people than there were milling about outside, allowing me to slightly relax. My class was meeting on the third floor of the building, and was far away from most of the commotion on the main floor. I took a moment to check the time; twenty minutes left before class started. There was plenty of time for me to explore my surroundings and ensure I had everything I needed to be successful that day. 

I began to wander around the third floor, paying special attention to the plaques on the walls and the collections of cool stuff kept in glass display cases throughout the third floor, treating it like a trip to the Nature and Science museum in Denver. In the hallways, I passed by numerous classrooms, some dark and empty, others packed full of students deeply focused on their studies and lectures. Few people walked the halls with me. But each person that passed me, whether it was a fellow student or a professor, seemed to be on a mission. Me? I was just plodding along, getting as oriented and grounded as possible before class started, sticking out like a sore thumb in my "NO STEP ON SNEK" hat, camo hoodie, paint-stained jeans, and well-worn American flag cowboy boots. 

With about five minutes left till 1:00 PM, I made my way over to my classroom, only to turn a corner and be greeted by a hallway packed full of students, many of whom were taking the same class as me. Not wanting to breathe in anyone else's air, I waited out in the main lobby of the third floor, keeping an eye on the students in the hallway. When they began to filter into class, I would follow them, though at a relatively safe distance. 

I stood staring at the growing gathering of students in the hallway, taking notice of the incredible diversity among them. There seemed to be people both younger and older than me, and everyone in between. There were people of all races and ethnicities. There were people with obvious (though not debilitating) disabilities. A few students had brightly colored hair. A few more had tattoos and piercings of all kinds. No two people dressed in the same style. Some people were dressed like they were going to a formal event. Others were dressed more like me (barely out of their pajamas). Some people wore their interests and political views quite literally on their sleeves. Others were much more neutral. I think I even saw a couple camo hoodies here and there. 

I felt just a little more comforted by just how many different people were just in that hallway alone. Again, I felt a little more assured that I really, truly belonged. Perhaps, my family and friends were right after all. 

Suddenly, the crowd of students began to move. Some entered the classroom I'd be going into. Others filtered into other nearby classrooms. I took in one last deep breath, pulled my mask down to spit my gum into a nearby trashcan, raised back up to my full height and stepped towards my classroom as outwardly confidently as possible. "This is it..." I thought as I strutted closer and closer towards the classroom, "I'm officially a college student... Oh. My. God..."