Ryan Upshaw |First Day at Ole Miss

Ryan Upshaw is one of the popular names around the campus. If you have ever walked down the roads of Ole Miss carrying any academic doubts, then he is the one you should go and talk to. He serves Ole Miss as the Assistant Dean of Student Services. But, he did spend the time in Ole Miss as one of us did; being a new student at the campus. Here's what Ryan has to say about his first day at Ole Miss:

"My first day(s) on campus were quite eye-opening. I moved in to my residence hall in the rain without my parents or a support group, and it was tough to watch many of my peers have their families there to support them. I am from a small town on the Gulf Coast in Mississippi called Moss Point that is almost 6 hours away. I consider myself a first-generation student since my father did not attend college, and my mother only attended a nursing school. She did not attend a traditional college/university as many of my friends parents did. I remember that sitting in the large lecture hall for the infamous Biology 160 class was daunting. Making my way across a somewhat unfamiliar campus and trying to meet people was taxing. I remember thinking that I had to dress "nicely" for class (that quickly changed lol). I definitely felt overwhelmed since I only knew a handful of people here. Luckily, I learned of campus involvement opportunities which made my undergraduate experience amazing. While my academic path ultimately changed, I keep my first days at Ole Miss as cherished memories because its how I made it where I am today.

Today, I work in an academic dean's office where that lost, possibly overwhelmed freshman, can come and be reassured that he or she has made the right decision. They can find a connection that helps them understand that they can succeed here and achieve their goals."