Hi! I’m Ada, a 22-year-old Norwegian freshman here at UNH and I’m really loving college life here in Durham. I grew up in a small town close to the sea, where I lived a very active life. I have many hobbies like waterskiing, tennis, hiking, mountain biking, and, of course, alpine skiing. Skiing is the closest to my heart and has been a huge part of my life. I love everything about it: working toward goals, training, early mornings, and the structure it brings.
I am outgoing and positive, and I love challenges. My family and friends mean a lot to me, and being around people gives me energy. I laugh and smile a lot, especially when I am with people I care about.
When I realized, I could go to college, get a degree and ski at the same time, I saw a new possibility. Things I cared about could come together in one place. My first weeks at college were exciting and completely different from anything I have experienced before.
The ski team has played an important role and helped me find my sense of belonging during my first weeks on campus. There are so many talented skiers, strong students, All-Americans, and people who have accomplished so much. It is inspiring to be surrounded by a group of people who work so hard, both athletically and academically.
Honestly, when I talk about the team, I do not even know where to start. Every person brings something different to the team, and together they make it feel like the place where I belong. I have never felt as welcome as I do with this team. We support each other, push each other in every workout, and still manage to have fun along the way. Everything feels less scary, and somehow, I feel like I can handle it all because I know I am not doing it alone. Our locker room has also become a special place for us. This is where we start every workout together. We hype each other up, have good conversations, laugh, and dance together. These moments bring us closer and put a smile on everyone’s face.
“Overwhelming” is the word I have used the most during these first few weeks. Everything I knew suddenly changed, and it all happened so fast. There are so many new people, new routines, and new responsibilities, all happening at once. Sometimes I do not even have the words to explain how it feels. But now, I am here, and that still feels surreal.
One of the strangest things about college is how unpredictable each day can be. I can wake up with no idea what the day will bring, and thirty minutes later, find myself having fun doing something I never imagined. I think that is one of the things I am starting to enjoy the most.
I feel lucky to be here and to have the opportunity to study while training with a team that works so hard to succeed. At the same time, I am earning a degree and building a life outside of skiing. After all the paperwork, applications, and hours spent in front of my laptop just to get here, I can say for sure it was worth it. I cannot wait to experience the ski season and compete with the team. Whenever I ask my teammates about it, they just smile and tell me how fun it is. That makes me even more excited to experience it myself.
So far, I have loved almost every day. Even Mondays are not bad, although many of my days are filled with classes and assignments. Every day brings something new: meals with friends, games, ice cream, trips to the beach, training, and so many unexpected moments in between. I am learning so much, trying new things, making friends, and challenging myself.
That is what I love about college life. Someone else might look at these moments and think they are nothing extraordinary, but to me, they are special. It is exciting, fun, and, of course, overwhelming. Everything is happening at once, and I think that is exactly what makes it so memorable.