When I first arrived at FAMU I had high hopes-hopes of freedom.
No more mom and dad and no more grass cutting.
A world that would be free from limitations and boundaries.
At first I hated the extremely small rooms, sharing a restroom with 15 other guys and sharing a room with someone I knew nothing about. Then I hated going from having a car the last two years of high school to having to catch the bus to get around. Even having to eat meals at a certain time was really hard to get used to.
Like all other freshmen, this was my introduction into adulthood and it did not take much time to learn that people would manipulate and lie to you.
I live in the FAMU housing projects, better known as Paddyfote. However, during the second week of school Paddyfote residents were told we would have new living accommodations.
Some of us would have to move to different dorms and others would move to the Palmetto North and South facilities.
We began talking about how cool it would be to have our own apartments. I really got excited because I could now cook hamburgers, fries and pizza. So I started to pack my bags and get them ready for their new homes.
A few days later I came home to a letter that said the moves were canceled. I was distraught. Why would the housing department say they are going to move students in order to renovate and then say, “Nevermind.” It made me feel like I’m living somewhere I’m not supposed to be.
But I’m a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, and me still being here serves a purpose. In some strange kind of way, time heals all wounds and you adapt.
Now, I love “Da Foote.” It’s the place to be; almost everybody is cool and the cafeteria is right across the street. It’s also the weekend hot spot to chill. Every morning I can’t wait to get up and sit outside the “Da Foote”-after class, of course-and just vibe, as others like to call it.
Honestly, if I had it to do all over again I would change nothing. Turmoil helps build relationships and I feel I have made some lifetime friends in the midst of a struggle. You learn a lot about yourself when you are placed in situations that you have no control over.
Sometimes it goes like that. That’s life and you learn how to adjust to uncontrollable situations. I have now learned to block out the little stuff, like small rooms and sharing a restroom to focus on the bigger picture. Things like being alive, well and happy is what’s most important.
So I say thank you FAMU, for opening my eyes to the real world. But I still have not gotten my net check!
Royle King is a freshman broadcast journalism student from Dallas. Contact him at royle_04@hotmail.com.