Five places that make the UMass campus special to me:

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The Newman Center. It took me a while to discover the Newman Center, but once I did I could not live without it. What initially drew me in was hearing rumors about its legendary breakfast my sophomore year. I was ecstatic to find they were not exaggerated. I get the same thing every morning: a breakfast sandwich on a croissant with a sausage patty and a large iced coffee. A couple of the employees even know my order now. As I grew older, I became more comfortable in every part of Newman, attending services and getting my work done upstairs. It is one of the coziest places on campus and close to Isenberg where I have most of my classes.

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South College. Although most of my classes are in Isenberg, I have a creative specialization with the college of Humanities and Fine Arts. This means I get a class every semester or so in South College. It’s one of the oldest buildings on campus but it still has cool modern touches. All the classrooms are spacious and made for fun class discussions and writing workshops. It is my go-to place for long writing assignments because everyone else there is also clacking away at their keyboards.

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Franklin Dining Commons. The best dining hall is a big debate on campus, but Frank is my favorite. I never even really lived too close to Frank but I was always willing to make the trek for the best deli sandwiches on campus or a made-to-order omelet. Even now that I live off campus, my roommates and I will pack a car to get breakfast together there on the weekends, so we get to recap our respective nights out. Frank is so reliable and eating there makes me feel so comfortable.

Pierpont Hall. I never actually lived in Pierpont, but a lot of people here think I did based on how much time I spent there my freshman year. By chance, most of the friends I made early on lived there. It was the go-to spot for video games or impromptu practices for our intramural volleyball team. My favorite memory was a night when my friends and I started a campfire out in back of Pierpont and made s’mores. It was a home away from my dorm in the Honors College and I often reminisce about it with all of my friends who I met there.

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Orchard Hill. When I was a junior, I got sick of treadmill runs and decided I should start going for morning runs on campus. On my first couple runs, going up such a steep hill intimidated me and I avoided it. Eventually, I put myself up to the challenge and dashed up the hill. I almost threw up but I was rewarded with a spectacular view of campus and surrounding Western Massachusetts. I have much better stamina now but still whenever I do that run, I make sure to take a break at the top of O-Hill so I can see that view. Sometimes me and my friends will even wake up early so we get to see the sunrise up there.