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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Emergency services, Oct. 14 ... Our View: Find another place for Vietnam Wall memorial ... Business briefs ... Emergency services, Oct. 14 ... Our View: Find another place for Vietnam Wall memorial ... Business briefs ... Marketta Gregory: We are loved Comment By Marketta Gregory More Content Now MailTribune.com By Marketta Gregory More Content Now Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Marketta Gregory More Content Now Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News I never meant to go to a women’s college. In fact, I really only visited the campus because a family friend couldn’t stop talking about it. There were small class sizes and amazing access to technology and science equipment even for first-year students, she said. Not to mention the leadership opportunities, the new art building and how accessible the professors are. She was right about all of it, and so I found myself in Nevada, Missouri, with more than 300 other women studying, growing, eating shakes and becoming more like sisters than friends. At the time, Cottey College was a two-year school, and first-year students were called freshmen and second-year students were seniors. We lived in suites, so we shared a living room, kitchenette, bathroom and most of our lives with nine other women -- a mix of freshmen and seniors. When I was homesick that first year, it was my seniors who comforted me and told me that it gets easier. It was one of my seniors who edited my first college essay, and a senior who hugged me when I had my first fight with my roommate. So you can imagine the tears at graduation and all the promises to keep in touch, even as we packed to go to places like Alabama, Wyoming and Croatia. But in true Cottey fashion, our seniors had a plan, a tradition for later that helped us stay close at heart. With their freshmen gathered, my seniors talked of friendship and of its value and worth. And then? Our seniors gave us ribbons. Some chose symbolic colors, others a plaid or pattern they were known to wear. When they handed them to us, they told us to pin them inside our jackets because the ribbons weren’t meant for others to see. They were meant to be a reminder for us that we are never alone. We share this walk together. I’ve long since removed the ribbons from my jacket, but I have them in a glass jewelry box that has traveled with me to every apartment and house I’ve lived in since. And some years around Valentine’s Day -- when it seems the perfect time to honor friends -- I tuck ribbons in the mail, in coat pockets and into the hands of loved ones because my seniors were right. We are not alone and we are loved. Marketta Gregory is a former religion reporter who now shares her own journey of faith with readers. She lives in Rochester, New York, with her husband, their three young boys and one very vocal Pomeranian. To contact Gregory, email [email protected] or write to her at P.O. Box 12923, Rochester, NY 14612. You can also visit the Simply Faithful page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter at @MarkettaGregory. By Marketta Gregory More Content Now MailTribune.com By Marketta Gregory More Content Now Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501