Out-of-State Students Adapt to Living at Manchester

Steven Wilson

Manchester University has a number of students who are from out of state. How do they feel about being far from home and how are their homes different from here?

Khalil Watts is from Atlanta but lives in Texas. How does he feel being so far away from his home in Texas? “I’ve gotten used to it,” he said. “It’s my second year and I feel more comfortable here. I will always be comfortable at home but I’m getting more comfortable here.”

He noted that Indiana and Texas are very different from each other. “The weather, the people, it’s just different,” he said. “I’m already used to the difference here than home, just gotta work with it.”

Yandel Victoriano is from Jacksonville, Florida, miles away from Indiana. He’s also adjusted to the move. “I like it here,” he said. “I like the people here, the friends I made; it’s cool here.”

He did note some things he preferred about Florida. “The weather is always just right; it’s just an atmosphere I grew up in that I’m used to more than here at Manchester.”

Duriel Moss is also from Florida; he’s from the city of Homestead. “Manchester is cool,” he said. “I really don’t complain much when it comes to home you know? The weather is different and all of that but I really can’t complain. I never thought I’d be traveling so far from Florida to Indiana but hey, I’m getting my education.”

Alexis Porter is from Knoxville Tennessee, which is about a six-hour drive from Manchester University. “It’s a cool little campus,” she said. “I met some cool people here.”

Does she miss anything about home? “Here and home are completely different places,” she said. “I feel more comfortable at home than here; I like it here though. I just think that this campus could use some more things.”

Amanda Warren, senior, is a Michigan girl, whose hometown is in Chesterfield. She said that Michigan and Indiana are somewhat like the same as far as weather, but they’re different because her town is filled with lots of water. They are both small towns in similar states, though.

These students look to be adjusting to their new home in the Midwest. The Oak Leaves will check back in when winter comes.