Story by Bentley Strider

In late April, the DHS Sophomore class visited the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) for a campus tour. While the day drew a variety of reactions from the students, it served as an engaging introduction to college life.

The visit took place on April 23rd, focusing primarily on an outdoor exploration of the campus. Students spent the majority of their time taking in the scenery and viewing the university’s outdoor recreational facilities.

The visit sparked plenty of enthusiasm among the attendees. Students took full advantage of the beautiful weather to appreciate the school’s open-air design and vibrant atmosphere.

“It was very outdoorsy, so we didn’t go into many buildings,” noted student Sarah Weathers. “We walked all around the campus. We got to go into the library and the cafeteria.”

Despite the limited indoor access, there were highlights to the day—most notably the hour spent in the university cafeteria. For some, the atmosphere of the campus felt familiar yet exciting.

“I thought it was pretty nice,” said Maddux Abernathy. “It felt a bit like Discovery, but as a college and with more people.”

Ultimately, the trip was a valuable learning experience. It gave the sophomores a chance to visualize their post-graduation options and began the important process of deciding which path—be it UNCA or another venture—they want to pursue in the future.