by Cameron Crenwelge · Texas A&M Equestrian
As a new school year begins, incoming NCEA athletes will pack up and move hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to pursue their passion. Last summer, as I attempted to pack everything I owned into a small dorm, while competing at both the AQHA Youth World and NSBA World shows, my head was filled with a seemingly infinite number of questions. Yes, I knew where I was living and what classes I was taking; but, I lacked answers for the majority of my questions regarding what my experience would be like on a collegiate equestrian team. My solution for this lack of answers was to reach out to any equestrian team member I saw and ask every question that popped into my head.
Fast-forward one year, and now I’m the equestrian team member that newcomers are asking for advice. After talking with a few of this year’s incoming freshmen, I came to the realization that they were all asking similar questions. So, I reached out, and with the help of many fellow NCEA equestrians, I found the answers.
QUESTION #1
“What should I bring to college to make it feel like I have a little bit of home there with me?”
– Emma Brown · Auburn 2022
“Definitely decorate your dorm with lots of pictures. The more comfortable you make your dorm, the easier it is not to be homesick.”
– Taylor Searles · Auburn 2021
“When I first went to college, I brought a lot of things with me to make my dorm room feel like home. I brought pictures of my family along with a few horse pictures and awards so it mimicked my room at home. I also brought little decorations and trinkets from home to display on my desk and dresser.”
– Paige Stopperich · South Carolina 2018