Disorientation. I am not sure that there is any one word that more appropriately describes how a freshman in the Big Apple feels during the first couple weeks of school. Whereas in the former life one could expect to live within an orderly routine, irregularity is the rule of the college experience. Now, any freshman college experience can be initially disorienting, but it is especially so in the Big Apple. For the first time in my young life, there are the challenges of identifying a grocery store that actually sells a slice of cheese for less than five dollars, of finding a group of friends, and of finding a spiritually vibrant church community—just to name a few.

Now, most happily, The King’s College has taken this great potential disorientation for the freshman into account by establishing an emphasis in the House system on integrating the freshman into the life of the school. For the House of Lewis freshman, the formal induction ceremony into the House was of particular drama and novelty. Charged with such duties as shaking hands with each individual in a local grocery store and singing a piece from “The Sound of Music” on the steps of Columbia University, the induction was pronouncedly integrating. Thus introduced to a group of young men who would be our constant companions, the days ahead with these honorable men would prove to be invaluable in the integration process.

As the first House competition for the freshman, the Great Race proved to be both a near disaster and a near miracle. Stripped of the power of Omar before we ever left the venerable Empire State Building, we complemented that unfortunate circumstance by conveniently separating ourselves from one another—hence an hour into the Great Race and we were looking anything but great. So dark was that hour of adversity that it is rumored that some new members at that very moment were contemplating a complete disassociation with the House of Lewis. In distinctly Lewisian manner, however, did the beloved (particularly among the female kind) Ryan Chambers deliver a most stirring speech onboard the Subway that inspired the honorable Men of Lewis to redouble their efforts. From thenceforward did we gallantly, speedily stride through the streets of NYC—causing perplexity, wonder, and awe among all who witnessed the historic attempt at a miraculous comeback. And comeback we did. Okay, while in the standings we came in last, it should be noted that a knitting was then occurring in the hearts of the Men of Lewis that would prove to be quite tight.

Now, times of great tribulation and arduous trials in the house competition for the Lewis Men would continue in the drama contest and the basketball competition. But persevere we did. At last, the Lewis star would shine brilliantly in the first annual King’s College Interregnum as the men proudly demonstrated the height, depth, and width of their talent. The Lewis Men were then happily brought out of the valley of hardship and into the tranquil pastures of victory.

The moral of the whole story is that while the House has thus far been unable to discover a grocery store that sells a slice of cheese at a reasonable price for me, it has certainly provided the community atmosphere whereby the transition has been more smoothed. Through the fire and through the rain, for the disoriented freshman the House indeed remains ever visible and strong.