When I first joined the Creative Writing department, it was halfway through the school year. Right in the middle of everything. I was so lost and out of rhythm. Everyone knew what they were doing, everyone had a route. Everyone already had their buddy, and I did not. At first, I did not really feel like I missed out. I had friends, I started getting used to the pace of the department, and things felt fine. But when the next school year started and I finally got my own buddy, I realized what I had been missing.

The buddy program is one of those things that sounds small but ends up meaning a lot. Whether you are the older one giving advice or the younger one receiving it, the support you get is real. You have someone who knows the teachers, the assignments, and the little unspoken things that make SOTA what it is. You can ask them about what classes to look out for, where to find quiet corners to write, or how to survive workshop nerves. Or, if you’re the older one, you can pass down what your buddy passed down to you. It sort of starts a tradition. 

But it is not all guidance, sometimes it is just fun. My buddy and I hang out during our buddy dates, talk about stories we are working on, or go get food somewhere we both like. It is simple, but those small moments make the department feel closer, more us.

Having a buddy has reminded me that SOTA’s Creative Writing program is not just about writing. It’s about community, about feeling like home. You are not just learning how to create stories; you are learning how to connect, share, and grow alongside someone who gets it.