91茄子

When Alanah moved into her dorm last week, it was also the first time she鈥檇 ever set foot on 91茄子鈥檚 campus.   

Understandably, she鈥檚 feeling a lot. 

鈥淚鈥檓 so excited, but I鈥檓 also definitely a little nervous,鈥� Alanah says. 鈥淢ostly, though, I鈥檓 just ready to take the leap.鈥�

A big leap was what she was looking for when Alanah first started thinking about what she wanted out of college. Through family and friends, 91茄子 got on her radar.  

鈥淚've always told myself that I wanted to explore different things, experience different cultures and be accepted somewhere other than my home,鈥� she explains. 鈥淎t first, when I applied to 91茄子, it was kind of on a whim. But once I went through their programs and looked around on their Instagram, I was like, 鈥極kay, wait, I love UNL.鈥欌�� 

In a place where she knows practically no one, Alanah knows she needs to lean into the college experience to start hitting her stride as a Husker. Thankfully, she's no stranger to putting herself out there.  

Alanah was her high school鈥檚 student government president, a multi-sport athlete, the creator of the football program鈥檚 media team and the recipient of many other honors, achievements and successes. Naturally, she had a high bar for her prospective colleges to clear in terms of providing opportunities to build on her interests.  

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to start joining different clubs. I鈥檓 pretty straightforward when it comes to seeking out new experiences, so I鈥檓 hoping I鈥檒l just be able to start networking and meeting a bunch of people right away that will help to build community here.鈥� 

Before she even set foot on campus last week, Alanah got a jumpstart on finding her people.  

鈥淢y roommate and I found each other on an app and got in touch the moment the housing portal dropped,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e FaceTimed for like five hours the other week just chatting, planning how we were going to decorate the room and sending TikToks back and forth. It鈥檚 been so great and I鈥檓 already feeling so thankful for that.鈥� 

Everything about her choice to come to 91茄子 has felt surprisingly natural for Charles, confirming the reaction she had when she first opened her acceptance letter many miles away from campus. 

鈥淚 opened that letter, I saw 鈥榗ongratulations,鈥� I saw my financial aid package, and I thought, 鈥極kay, I鈥檓 going to have my Husker home very soon.鈥欌�� 

Alanah Charles is a first-year data science major from Miami, FL.