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True stories about navigating the first year of college by building a personal foundation of strong faith, healthy mentality, and supportive community.

In college, students are curious to experience and explore. Yet so many lack a big brother figure who can share lessons learned. Take a walk in Amman's shoes as he details his attempts to navigate his freshman year at the whitest public university in California. This memoir includes real stories on institutional racism, personal faith, academic resilience, finding community, emergency room visits, and more.

Chapters-Preface: 160 of 22,000 // Corny Icebreakers // Caged Bird Sings // Pray First // Mentality is Paramount // We Long to Belong // Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart // Closed Mouths Don't Get Bread

Author bio-Amman F. Asfaw was enrolled in America's K-12 public school system, California's community college system and Spain's Universidad de Navarra before eventually graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with bachelor's and master's degrees, both in electrical engineering. Amman considers himself an engineer on paper, a humanitarian at heart, and an entrepreneur by nature. He is a first-generation Ethiopian-American whose core values are respect, integrity, and commitment. Amman has worked for Fortune 100 companies, led non profit organizations, attempted startups, and is also a small business owner. Amman has previously been published by the American Society for Engineering Education, California Polytechnic State University, and Mustang News. Views expressed are his own.