Howdy, Sooners!

The time has come to embark on a new leg of our collective academic journey, and I’d like to say on behalf of everyone at The Daily that we’re glad to have you back.

To all the grizzled sophomores, upperclassmen and graduate students returning to campus today, I hope you’ve had a phenomenal summer.

Norman has been a less festive, altogether quiet place without you guys and gals running amok, and I hope you’re ready for another round of early mornings, hectic days and late nights.

To all you doe-eyed newcomers wandering the halls and sidewalks of campus for the first time without a tour guide, well, I’d certainly like to welcome you to Sooner nation and The Daily’s readership, but my secondary message is somewhat more complex.

First of all, let me tell you that yes, college is incredible, but it does take some getting used to.

For many of you, the safety and security of your childhood home and parents’ stocked pantry are hundreds of miles away, and the goofy confidants with whom you graduated high school have been replaced by a sea of strange faces.

Longing for all you’ve ever known is completely natural at this stage in your life, but don’t let it get the best of you.

Take the opportunity to talk to the cute girl or guy in the glasses after your Intro to Psych class. Go throw a Frisbee with the guy with the Grateful Dead tattoo. Tell that longboarder you’re too cool for bicycles as well, and maybe he’ll let you take his ride for a spin.

Stay away from the guy in the Affliction T-shirt, though. That guy’s trouble.

In addition to meeting the new people around you, I urge you to make the most of your opportunities to get involved on campus outside of a purely academic perspective.

I know that without 160 Copeland Hall and The Daily, my collegiate experience wouldn’t have been nearly as rich or enjoyable thus far.

In the newsroom, I’m surrounded by like-minded folks who share my passion for journalism and care for me despite my faults. Whatever you’re into, I have no doubt you can find an organization that makes you feel the same.

We’d love for you to join us ­— and consider this an open invitation to drop by our newsroom on the South Oval and chat any time — but if journalism isn‘t your thing, seek out other opportunities.

Whether you wish to try your hand at student government, sit around talking about comic books or simply play intramural sports, there’s a club or organization with members just like you waiting to be found.

Don’t be afraid to attend meetings or approach the administrators for campus clubs and organizations, because just like the staff at The Daily, they’ll be glad to get you involved and up to speed on their role in campus life.

Let me wrap this up by adding my own spin to the obligatory "great power, great responsibility" speech you’ve likely been hearing for months.

For many of you, this is the most freedom and control over your day-to-day activities you’ve ever possessed.

Spread your wings and fly, dearest freshmen, but take care as you do so. Your collegiate experience can go any number of ways, so make the most of it by not sleeping through all your classes, drinking in excess or mistreating your fellow Sooners.

If you take care of yourself and those around you, I have no doubt in four, five or in some cases six years when you’re walking across the stage to grab your diploma, you’ll look back on this moment fondly, so savor it.

By the time you move on to the dreaded real world, you’ll have learned and accomplished so much in and around this beautiful campus. You’ll have loved, lost, laughed, cried and generally experienced the entire spectrum of human emotions, and in the end, I suppose that’s as large a part of college as anything.

I look forward to reporting on your accomplishments, Class of 2015. So go out there and begin writing your own collegiate story.

— Chris Miller, journalism senior