I didn't have a car freshman year, so I was limited in where I could go.  Don't get me wrong, I never went without.  There were plenty of people going to Target or Wal-mart and we always car-pooled when we were doing something off campus.  But I never got to explore Athens and all it had to offer. 

I finally got to know Athens when I started working at Bulldog Baskets.  First, Callie and Paul informed us of places we had to eat and see.  Also, I was forced to drive around and get comfortable with the roads when I made deliveries.  I began to know the road names and apartment complexes.  I learned shortcuts and was finally able to give other people good directions.

So, the moral of the story is to explore Athens.  Even if you don't have a car the first year, get a good friend with a car and drive around.  Find the old fireplace in the park behind the intramural fields, eat at Weaver D's, and take a drive through some of the up-scale neighborhoods to see the beautiful houses.  I wish I would have done all these freshman year, not junior year.

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Laura Ann