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 missed out seeing places like the Botanical Gardens, Memorial Park, and the intramural fields.
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
