Freshman Year

My niece started BYU this week, causing me to reflect on my own college experience. I started out at BYU about 2 weeks after High School graduation. I was 17 1/2 years old. My mom after a very long and tearful goodbye, left me in my dorm room all alone. My never met nor seen nor spoken to before roommate had not yet checked in. I was alone. I was lonely. The tears and anguish seemed never ending. I had felt the like only world I had known been ripped from me. I did the only thing I knew how to do when I was sad. I got on my knees and prayed to Heavenly Father. After a few minutes of pleading to be rescued from my sorrow, I felt a warm arm drape across my shoulders. I heard a male voice say, "I will be your friend. I will be with you always." This voice was so audible and the warmth across my shoulders was so tangible that I opened my eyes and peeked to see who had come into my room. No one was there. But I was comforted. Those words, "I will be your friend. I will be with you always." have given me support numerous times since then.