The fall 2015 semester here at American International College started back in late August. All students arrived and the new freshmen are used to the campus and settled into their dorm rooms now.

And since this is a college with a lot of sports, there are a lot of female athletes on the third floor of Pouch Hall.

More than half of the residents on the third floor of Pouch are student athletes. Not all of them compete in the same sport – there is quite a variety of athletes.

Almost every sport the school offers is represented by at least one athlete living on that floor. Besides several volleyball and field hockey players, on board also are members of soccer, lacrosse, rugby, softball, cheerleading, track and field, cross country and basketball teams.

Every sport has its special element. The diversity includes different aspects.

Anna King, an international freshman from Scotland, described it from her own point of view.

“Field hockey is a challenging sport in its own ways,” King said. “You have to run fast but you also have to play smart. Every game is different as well as every practice you compete in. I enjoy the whole aspect of it.”

Oriana Barthelmes, a women’s rugby freshman, shared her opinion.

“I like the fact that you get to hit people in my sport. Moreover, my team is like a big family to me. We all work together,” Barthelmes said.

The statement of a team as family is interesting. If you think about a floor in a college residence, you probably think this should be a family too. People live together there for at least two semesters.

Ashley Hughes, a freshman from California who plays softball, likes the camaraderie that has developed on the floor.

“What I like about Pouch is that everyone gets along with each other and it’s a really friendly atmosphere,” Hughes explained.

Nobody could have predicted the magic that has happened on the third floor at Pouch.

Thirty-eight girls collide without knowing each other. Why did they choose Pouch?

“I chose Pouch because I thought it would be quieter and more relaxed compared to Hines because it’s a just girl residence. I like it here, it’s really nice and so far it’s quiet and clean,” said Barthelmes.

Aside from the diversity of sports, there are a variety of nations, cultures, and religions present too. People from all over the world live on that floor. There are girls from Australia, Sweden, Scotland, Belgium, Switzerland and America of course. A few of them are from the other side of this country, the west coast. A great exchange of cultures and interests exists.

Many countries – one college! The question to ask here is why they all chose AIC.

“I had the chance to get a scholarship here, therefore my sport is the reason why I chose AIC,” said King.

However, Diva Rivas-Reyes, a Volleyball freshman from Arizona however said: “I knew about AIC because of the sports. Moreover they had the major I wanted so I decided to go here.”

As a freshman, it can be hard sometimes. Everything is new. The girls are away from home the first time; they have to make their own decisions. Whether they need to study or they want to go out. Whether they go to class or they want to sleep in. It’s all about time management.

“I try to stay organized,” or “I try to get my homework done as soon as possible,” are just two examples of statements student athletes living in Pouch mentioned.

Overall, it is a nice atmosphere on the third floor of Pouch. The creative RA, Marisa Najarian, always does her best to create new things that keep the floor attractive. She comes up with new ideas and new designs.

People like it here at on the third floor of Pouch and at AIC, a college where sport plays an important role and where different countries and different cultures are represented.