By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer

Ah, to be a freshman. Thinking back on all of my experiences as a first-year college student, to say all I have gone through in my time at ACU has been full of tremendous joy would be a lie.

A huge, nasty lie.

Over the course of two-plus years I have changed my major once, struggled to find decent jobs, eventually found jobs, but with long or unusual hours, fought to make decent grades in my classes, gone days without any sufficient rest and even fallen asleep in classes due to total exhaustion (my apologizes, Dr. Brecheen).

Entering my junior year at ACU, I have dealt with more than I ever would have guessed after high school, but this year I get the chance to be what I have never been able to be: a real big brother to an incoming freshman, my younger brother.

This isn’t foreign territory to me; my older sister was in a parallel position just two years ago, so I have an idea of what I need to do. She did all that she could to be a positive role model and show me how her ACU experiences affected her.

Compared to just a few weeks ago, I can relate with my brother because he comes to ACU in a similar situation as a freshman. ACU was initially my school of choice because I wanted a college education from a private, Christian institution in Texas. Neither one of us liked the idea of spending our of college years in Abilene. Both of us had a tough time leaving home, too.

As a matter of fact, I didn’t think ACU was the right place for me until Thanksgiving of last year. If I had totally given up on this place before opening myself to all that ACU had to offer, I would not be anywhere close to where I am right now.

This week, the next generation of ACU students will get their first taste of what college life is all about. Upperclassmen have the responsibility of showing freshmen what ACU has to offer by being examples around campus, in the classroom and at Chapel and devotionals.

All freshmen have to do is be willing to watch and listen.