Home Away From Home

By Lana Le, 1st year Behavior Science & Health Education

Let’s just say that when people call you a Cali girl, they really mean you exude a Californian aura.  With that said, if it isn’t obvious, I’m a California born and raised girl who has never lived anywhere outside of the Golden State. So you would imagine that when I got my acceptance to Rollins I was both ecstatic and horrified. How would I live without my In-N-Out Burger and warm weather in the winter?!  I was scared and nervous, but when August hit, I had packed my bags and made the move to the South.

For the first month, I struggled…never had I seen rain come down so much and so often. The weather, combined with not being able to find my place at Rollins, made the days seem weary. To be honest, I still feel like I’m struggling through school, friendships, my relationship, and everything in between, but the difference between the first months here at Rollins and now is the support system I have grown to cherish. They tell you that in the public health world, everyone knows everyone, well they aren’t wrong; everyone really does know everyone–kind of like a family.

Rollins has been a source of support and encouragement like no other. I don’t think I could have made a better choice in coming here. Every single one of your instructors is here for your education; many of them go above and beyond to ensure your success both in and outside of the classroom. Staff here are incredibly nice and always have kind words of wisdom, an ear, and a smile to share. My biggest advice to you is to take everything that is presented to you and run with it.Take every suggestion, every networking connection, and every adventure you can get. You can’t go wrong with coming to Rollins!

It is through these support avenues that I discovered my favorite place in Atlanta. The Chattahoochee Coffee Company is located on the riverside of the Chattahoochee River about 15 miles away from Rollins. It’s one of Atlanta’s best-kept secrets–shhhh.  A place where you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee right by the river while working on an assignment.  The sounds of the river flowing and nature chirping make this an ideal place to think, relax, and unwind. If you’re adventurous you can even kayak on the river or hike the trails!

You may be scared of the move here to Atlanta, but trust me when I say this: you won’t regret it one bit.  It’s the perfect mixture of anything you can think of – kind of like a home.