It was the first day of classes in August 2007 and I logged into Facebook after getting ready for a lecture. I had a message in my inbox from a guy I’d met that March.

He was an editor at The Oklahoma Daily and I’d visited with him during spring break.

In the message, he asked if I was interested in working for The Daily and told me to call him when I got out of class.

After my pre-calculus lecture that morning, I excitedly dialed his phone number, unaware of how influential this friend and The Daily would be on my future.

I met up with him on the South Oval for free Howdy Week pizza, was introduced to my editor and assigned a story on drunken driving checkpoints.

Just like that, I was up and running my first day as a Sooner. I’d been welcomed to The Daily family and I was hooked.

During the past three years, I’ve worked for The Daily as a reporter, copy editor and managing editor. Despite what I might have said when editors asked me to rewrite stories for the fourth time, I’ve loved every second of it.

Copeland Hall, room 160, is the place that can make me smile, cry, laugh and scream all in the same day. I’ve met some incredible people while writing stories and enjoyed learning from my co-workers.

The experience I’ve gained in the Copeland Hall newsroom helped me land three professional newspaper internships and prepared me to serve as editor-in-chief this year.

The road to where I am now wasn’t easy, but it’s something I wouldn’t trade for the world.

For many of you, the road to college wasn’t easy. Deciding where to go, leaving home and walking into the unknown isn’t something to be taken lightly.

But now that you’re here, in the heart of Sooner Nation, I encourage all of you to get out of the dorm and get involved.

As fun as pizza delivery and video games until 4 a.m. can be, that’s not what makes the college experience.

It’s about getting involved in the cultural, academic, service, social, faith-based, athletic and leadership organizations. There are hundreds of them and each needs enthusiastic members who are willing to participate, learn and one-day lead.

The students, faculty and staff at this university want to act like my welcoming editor did and get you involved. They want to teach you and watch you succeed. Let them.

That said; don’t over-commit yourself to too many things.

Spend freshman year trying new things and having different experiences. Figure out what you enjoy and where your talents lie.

Then, focus your time and energy on making a difference in a few organizations, rather than passively being involved in a lot.

It’s my hope that each of you find something to invest your time in like I’ve found The Daily.

I smile knowing my peers pour themselves into campus groups and causes like the green initiative, Spanish Club and ROTC. Every group on our campus is important and makes our college experience better.

No matter what groups you end up joining, just make sure you’re happy.

For some of you, happiness may come from seeing your story or photographs in The Daily. If that’s the case, consider this your personal Facebook message. I’d love to join you on the South Oval for some free Howdy Week pizza.

For the rest of you, I hope you find a niche that gets you excited about being a Sooner, introduces you to incredible people and makes you want to lead.

Whenever you find that, be sure to let me know. I’m sure we’d love to write about it.

Class of 2014: no matter how you’re feeling today — nervous, excited, anxious, lonely or overwhelmed — remember it. You’ll look back in four years and smile, because the start of freshman year is the start of something wonderful.

- Meredith Moriak is a journalism senior. She will be the editor-in-chief of The Daily during the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters.