“Jackson Wells is no longer in my house”

I know that no one reading this will know who Jackson Wells is, so I will tell you. Jackson is a film student from central North Carolina and a wonderful friend I am so grateful to have met. He is extremely talented with a camera and editing software. I first met Jackson through a mutual friend that I went to high school with. Mind you, I never found out how they met, being 500 miles apart for their entire lives. But I could not describe to you how crazy it was for me to be saying the words “Jackson Wells is in my house”.  This person that I had known for months (almost years) was exiting his “home” in my text messages and Instagram feed, and he was entering my real life. Crazy.

This past weekend, Jackson and a few other friends from all over the east coast visited Happy Valley to get a taste of the Penn State culture and campus. It was a miraculous and exciting weekend full of scary movies, real film pictures, and late-night trips to Sheetz – truly a dream come true. We went all over campus, showing the visitors the best spots to eat, study, relax, and of course take peak pictures. It gave me a bit more of an appreciation for Penn State, which I didn’t think was possible. I know how amazing this campus is but seeing the wonder in a visitor’s eyes as we peruse the stacks or eat creamery ice cream really cemented the fact that Penn State is a special university. 

It was a heart-breaking experience to drop all my friends off at the bus station Sunday night. It pained me to say the words, “Jackson Wells is no longer in my house.” Coming home to my apartment left me feeling as empty as all the rooms now were. While this was a rollercoaster ride of a weekend, I think I learned something along with it. I have always struggled to make good friends in the past and I am now in a place where I appreciate all the friends I have, and they appreciate me. My four roommates, my close friends, my extended “family” in North Carolina and New York City…they all have made me believe in the “power of friendship”. I know that sounds absolutely corny but experiencing it for one of the first times is difficult to reframe in another phrase. Having a support system that can aid you in tough times, cheer you on in your triumphs, and just be there is something spectacular. I hope that everyone can discover at least a little more about the power of friendship this week, and if you’re ever in need of a new buddy or personal cheerleader, you can count on me 🙂

(credit: Jackson Wells)