Apple Maps is not the most reliable source for pedestrian directions, and I wish someone had told me that before my first day at FSU. I vividly remember walking in circles around the campus trying not to be late. My freshman self stared down at her phone, desperately trying to navigate the brick buildings she did not yet recognize until she finally stumbled upon the Williams Building.
At the time, that name meant nothing to her. It was just another place on campus, one with which I had no memories or connections to. And let me just say… the hill that leads up to the building had sweat beading on my forehead before I had even met any other students.
While trying to ignore the sweat dripping down my back (and wishing icebreakers had a more literal meaning than ever before), I took note of the classroom I was sitting in. The dim lights and the small desks reminded me distinctly of a high school classroom. While on the surface that isn’t exactly a compliment, I mean it affectionately. I’ve learned to appreciate the familiar feeling that comes with the Williams Building. It’s not flashy or updated as much as other buildings, but I’ve found these aspects make it feel more comfortable than any other place on campus.
Being the building for almost all English classes, the Williams Building has become a sort of hub for English majors, with meetings for Kudzu Review, the English Honor Society, and other groups happening every month!
As an English major, faces of people I had never spoken to before suddenly became familiar throughout the hallways of the Williams Building. There is a sense of camaraderie that comes with being in a shared space and studying similar things. We’ve all endured being made fun of for being an English major in a way that has silently brought us together.
The Williams Building was built in 1927, which means it is coming up on its 100th birthday. While it isn’t exactly the most refined place on campus, it’s filled with history and memories, and cherished by those who attend classes in it every week.
Of course, this is only my experience at FSU. A building that holds sentimental value to me won’t be the same for someone with a different major or different experience. Regardless, the place that I couldn’t find on a map, and was scared to enter on my first day, became a second home to me over time.
I still get lost all the time on campus, but it doesn’t intimidate me anymore. Now that I have found a place that I know I can always turn to, I don’t feel the stress that I used to while on campus.         Â
College is daunting at first. It can feel overwhelming, or as if you don’t belong. But you don’t have to be knowledgeable about the entire campus to feel comfortable. It’s all about finding your place.
I hope that no matter what you study or where you go, you find a building that brings you a similar sense of comfort and nostalgia that the Williams Building brings to me.
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