The drive to campus was like thirty to forty minutes, but it felt like a lifetime of change had happened. I rolled down the window, letting the fresh air sweep through my hair as I drove slowly past groups of students dragging duffels and hauling boxes. There were smiles, excited squeals, and the hum of new beginnings everywhere. 

Welcome, Kimberly Ashford. 

The guard waved me through like he knew me already, and maybe he did. Dad’s name carried weight. So did my last name. I tried to ...