Brothers

Not only were my scholarships or my life, as my parents allow it to exist, dependent on my first semester report card, but also my pending initiation into my fraternity. I am sad to say some of my pledge brothers did not achieve the minimum and therefore, were not initiated. In all fairness, we had the highest minimum of all fraternities on campus. My pledge class and the house as a whole have once again earned the spot as one of the fraternities with the highest GPAs. Without considering the grades, everyone was voted in, and we were initiated as full brothers.

Obviously, I cannot reveal any fraternity rituals that I have sworn to keep secret, but I can express how happy I was to become a full brother. I felt fully welcomed when 80-year-old men, who I now call brother, were present in the chapter room to witness my initiation. After affirming my allegiance, I felt an instant connection to the thousands of brothers across the nation who had said the same words before me. I felt equal to all of the older guys as they all have begun to call me brother, also. After the ceremony, we were greeted by parents, grandparents, and family for our initiation reception and lunch. That evening the older brothers hosted an initiation party at one of the local restaurant/bars for all of the new members. It was an awesome party that had a solid line of people outside the door who could not get in because of fire code capacity limitations. Like any party or social on campus, it did not start till 10 p.m. and it did not end till 2 a.m.

This week, we, the new initiates, will be allowed to attend the weekly chapter meetings. It already feels different walking around the house and especially different walking through the thresholds of secret rooms. My big brother has informed me that during our first chapter we will be nominating for committee positions, and I wish to head one committee. There are many ways to give back, and I am confident I will be able to find a position that fits me. I look forward to the years to come in my fraternity and at my great university.

Dog Sick

This was not one of the ways I wished to start off the new semester, but the cold got a hold of me. I do not know if it was the change in weather, my weak immune system, or the current bug going around campus. What baffles me is that I got sick while exercising, sleeping well, dressing warmly, eating healthily, and even taking vitamins.

The doctor at the student health center gave me some heavy duty prescriptions which have knocked most of it out within two days. But during the day before I mustered up the courage to visit the doctor and the two-day recovery, I have never had a cold that drained so much energy out of me. I can guarantee you the codeine and other cough medicine did not help my drowsiness. I found it amazing that some of my awesome female friends offered to bring medicine and food to my room so I would not have to get out. If only they were capable of my strenuously hard engineering homework which continually compounded my headaches. But now that I am semi-well, I find myself rushing to catch up.

I want to praise the student health center for their assistance. I was able to walk in and have an appointment within fifteen minutes. I was worried a med student would diagnose me, but a doctor with 20 years experience examined me. He did a thorough exam and, on an adult level, explained everything to me. Not only did he describe my ailment, but how to avoid it on campus. The medicine which he prescribed was available across the hall at the student discount pharmacy. I was relieved that the billing was covered by insurance and the minuscule remaining balance was added to my student bill. Sorry, Mom and Dad.

This first major collegiate illness has been a lot different from childhood infections. I had to be responsible enough to independently visit the doctor and take the right medicine. I had many options to go out on daily or nightly adventures, but I choose to remain in my room. The motherly void can never be completely filled by anyone other than my mother, but the awesome female friends gave comfort and love just like a mother would. Now that I have gotten over my illness and many of my other first semester challenges, I have the confidence I can get through anything college throws my way

Resolutions

As unoriginal as it may sound, one of my new year’s resolutions is to get back into shape. During my first semester, I did not realize what it took to remain healthy and “in shape.” I was not careful about my food selection and intake, which resulted in the freshmen fifteen. Before school started I knew this myth was true, but expected it to be a two-semester statistic! Now, I find myself fighting to eradicate the fifteen pounds or replace them with muscle. Because of limited time, I was not able to benefit from the free student recreation center. But within the first week of this semester, I have already reaped the benefits from exercise on multiple occasions. Hopefully, this New Year’s resolution will result in a more physically fit, muscular, lean, and attractive optical resolution for any fine female during spring break.

As a varsity basketball player in high school, I understand hard work and exercise, but I physically relaxed a little too much during the fall. As any athlete or any individual who lifts weights, I know the initial workout is a killer. You are unsatisfied with the lack of weights you can manhandle, and you are incredibly sore for the next day. I am no expectation to these two effects. Since I could barely lift my arms, I was forced to prop my arms against the shower wall in order to wash my hair and picking up my backpack became an overly painful chore. Being in shape gives me better peace of mind and will hopefully affect my classroom performance.

Just like many college students and even high school students, I have promised myself to continue making great grades and even improve them. I am anticipating fewer distractions for the spring semester and have made plans for better time management. After receiving all of my syllabi, I am predicting a lot more work for my second semester. I am excited about the challenges and cannot wait to conquer all of them in full.

"Home"

I have returned to my campus dormitory, “home.” My family would be offended if I were to call my dorm my true home because in their eyes I will forever live in our home. As Bon Jovi says in “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” “You take the home from the boy, but not the boy from his home.” My parents will be comforted by knowing I will always live in my true home—a part of me will always belong with them.

Of course, I have had a huge urge to meet back up with all my friends. I have had the opportunity to see many of them, but I have a lot more to go. Everybody has enjoyed their break and all are just as excited as me about starting another semester at college. We shared a few stories from the break, but we have picked right up from when we last saw each other.

One of my favorite aspects of college is collegiate sports. I enjoy the competition, hype, excitement, and camaraderie around every game. I was able to watch the NCAA football National Championship with my pledge brothers. Even though Florida is one of our rivals, I was very happy to see a fellow SEC team win and show SEC dominance. Right now, college basketball is in full swing. As a former high school varsity basketball player, I have passionate appreciation for the sport. Our team has begun intense SEC play and the arena is crazy during every game.

Classes begin shortly, and I cannot wait for another chance to excel in the classroom. I received mostly As and Bs last semester, and I wish to improve my GPA even more. I now understand what it takes, and I will be a lot more focused in order to obtain the highest possible grades. I eagerly await another great challenge.

Fun, Fun, Fun

Three-and-a-half weeks or three-and-a half months-- anyone can do a lot in these allotted times, and I sure have. Ranging from fishing the deep waters to hunting the deep woods, from Grandma’s house to Granddad’s house, scoring the clutch touchdown on Xbox’s NCAA to watching the incredible Bowl Game touchdowns, from relaxing to active, hard work, these activities have filled my winter break. From intense involvement in student organizations to personal relationships, from studying to passing tests with flying colors, from pledging a fraternity to socializing with sororities, and most important of all proudly receiving the final report card filled with primarily As and a few Bs, these activities filled three-and-a-half months of my first collegiate semester.

Being the Boy Scout I am, I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the outdoors. The cool, crisp air of a Southern winter is always refreshing. In the woods, the hardwoods have created a rustle with crispy, brown leaves on the forest floor while the conifers provide vibrant green foliage. The fresh air uplifted me while my book entertained my eyes until that monster buck would appear, or, in my case, never appear. On the water, the wet, cold wind penetrated any jacket but the anticipation of the next catch kept me warm. Frigid water droplets and slime of fish stunned the hands with every catch and release.

I have mentioned the visits to see my grandparents in my previous entry, but I have not mentioned playing Xbox late into the night with my brother or cheering with my family for my college’s football team in their bowl game. I have also enjoyed the companionship of my close friends during the break. Surprisingly, we have found new and exciting ways to goof off in our hometowns. There is something to be said for good ole R and R, and now I am ready to return to hard work back at college.

I have made plans for my spring semester. As described in “Round Two,” I am registered for classes and, as of today, my books are reserved. I am searching for those laundry hampers to pack and return all of my clean clothes with. My mom has once again purchased enough groceries for me to survive the first few weeks or so. I have eagerly committed to several lunch dates or different nights to hang out with my first semester friends who I have not had the opportunity to see over the break. If you cannot tell, I am counting down the time to my return.