Changes

Nine months. It’s a long time. A lot of things can change within this time frame. Children are conceived and born. Buildings are designed and built. Politicians run for and win office. Ideas are envisioned and executed. Courses are completed, and credit is given. Kids become adults. My graduating class’s dynamic has been slightly twisted and aged. Now that school is over and I have some free time, I have come to realize and recognize these changes.

Thankfully, none of my immediate friends have faced parenthood. Everyone has heard stories of freshmen faced with unexpected pregnancy, but I have not heard any this past year in my various circles.

Every campus I ever visited continues to expand their facilities and renovate old buildings. No school wants to be left in the “stone age” and every campus wishes to be the premier show place. I cannot complain about the growth and competition, because it is positively benefiting the student, teachers, research, economy, and campuses. My campus was no exception. I had several detours, dusty roads, obnoxious jackhammers, beeping bulldozers, closed buildings, and ugly worker cracks to deal with on a regular basis. I was very appreciative that the construction crews took into consideration all student concerns and were not a detriment to the academic experience.

Locally, my community is growing by leaps and bounds. The housing market is larger than ever. New homes, buildings, businesses, roads, and other infrastructure are taking form. This amount of change is rather astonishing to me. My sense of my traditionally small hometown is sadly being warped into a decent size city. The change is not too overbearing, but shocking. During an afternoon stroll through town with another friend, the difference is amazing.

I absolutely hate politics more than a fat kid hates exercising on the beach. Nothing about it appeals to me. But, politicians have approached me in some format or another during my college year. Facebook groups, chalked sidewalks, picket lines, personal conversation, mass emails, flyers, and even telephone calls have seeped into my life. I have avoided national and state politics. But since I am a voting citizen now, I feel I must be an informed voter. Therefore, I have heeded debates and large developments. Local politics are less important but more relevant and interesting to me because I know the politicians. Change has also taken its toll in this arena during my one year absence. Politicians have moved onto better things for personal interest or lack of public support.

My small graduating class has not changed but developed. Most are more mature and smarter. A few have digressed and are in the local community college. A large percentage has gained the “Freshmen Fifteen.” Some rightfully gained weight from the unhealthy eating habits or surplus of available cafeteria food. Others’ weight can be contributed to Friday-night 12 ounce curls. Generally, the males are more liberal in hygiene especially hair and facial hair length. Religiously, the strong are still strong, but unfortunately others have lingered away. I am still strong and have even accepted a leadership role in a campus youth group and praise service. Most of all, college has opened the eyes of all of us and exposed us to so many different walks of life. My friends are more assured of themselves, have a sense of extra happiness, and have a greater confidence level.

chillaxin

I’m back in my real bed. No extra-long twin bed for me, but a real Full-size bed to sprawl out in. My room is how I want it. I can move freely under the perfect temperature and not worry about my roommate’s mess or opinion. It’s the lay-out, aesthetics, smell, closure, comfort, memories, and routine which make my room and home so sweet.

College has strained my personal budget. Seeing that I primarily focused my time on academic endeavors and a few social activities, I did not have the income of a steady job. Scholarships covered tuition and a few other expenses, but I was not as fortunate as the premier scholars to receive a generous stipend. Therefore, I relied on the savings of last summer’s job for extra expenses. These dwindled by the end of my second semester but still remained in the positive green zone. It would have been wise to formally budget my finances, but I managed fine by remaining money smart. I certainly will budget next semester for all of the expenses entailed with living in an apartment. First and foremost, I most have money to budget. Which is why I am serving at a local fine dining restaurant and helping a friend with her catering/wedding business. I will also cut a few yards in my free time. I still have not decided if I will work part-time during the fall. This depends on how much money I make during the summer.

Seeing that my fellow graduates have also adjusted to the college schedule, socializing and planned activities have been moved to later times in the night. This is perfect for me, since I do not get off work till 9:00 or 10:00 and I'm able to sleep late in the mornings. Some friends are stuck in the 8-to-five schedule and not able to keep late hours. Although we have changed over a year, our activities have not changed too much. We still watch movies, play video games, compete in various games out on sport fields, enjoy the outdoors, swim in creeks, and talk to the wee hours of the morning. The conversations are rather interesting as we compare stories from our first year. Each of us could continue for hours and write numerous books or blogs. Thankfully, we are able to laugh at our foolish and idiotic behaviors/mistakes throughout high school and college. We look back onto these times with a little bit more knowledge and wisdom than we could ever imagine at the time. We have learned some lessons over our freshmen year and will pass them on to our prospective incoming freshmen. In your, the reader’s, case, I will post them soon.

Checked OUT

The Resident Advisor (RA) kindly placed the ninth friendly reminder about check out procedures on our door. He wishes for the room to be cleaner than when we arrived in August, and us to be checked out of the dorms by 10:00 in the morning. Many fellow residents have chosen to leave the previous day before the required checkout, but all of us mentally checked out shortly after our last final. Throughout the madhouse of packing, friends said goodbye for the summer, parents lined up cars outside the dorms just like move-in day, RAs chewed us out for the smallest of details, and the campus slowly screeched to a stop. I hated for all of the “Firsts” of freshmen year to end, but I couldn’t stop any of them.

Stress has flown from my life for the next few months. Thank God for summer! Stress from any academic discipline will not find any comfort within me. Plans for the summer include beach trips, friends, family, and work. I will replenish all the missing parts of my hometown in my heart and prepare for another year of academic battle.

One down! Three to go? It’s official. The grades are in, and I have completed one full year of study at the university, but hopefully it will be wrapped up in only three more years. This could be no small feat for any engineering major since many of them take more than four years to earn their degrees. My AP credits in high school will greatly assist me in my out-in-four attempt and allow for a few quick minors, such as History and Math. Unlike a few of my friends at my school and other colleges, I will remain at my first school of choice. Some could not make the adjustment or just did not like their first choice. I consider my first year a success and look forward to the challenges of the next three.

Finalizing

Spring is coming to an end. And that means, summer is here. Finals are quickly approaching. Spring football practice has concluded. All my organizations are having their end of the year events. Plans are being made for the summer. What is most important, I’m in need of a summer job.

The university was kind enough to reserve last week, a.k.a. Dead Week, for studying which meant no assignments, quizzes, or tests. Therefore, the teachers view the previous week as the last week for assignments. I was crammed with homework, assignments, quizzes, and a presentation during that week. In the mix of that nonsense, I began studying for finals, since they are very important. Some finals can weigh as much as 68% of my final grade.

The spring football practice game not only showed a glimpse of next season, but it returned the excitement of the fall. The RVs rolled in and the tailgaters reclaimed their home on the Quad. To the fans’ disappointment, the coaches did not reveal their whole playbook in order to keep the element of surprise for next year’s opponents. Fifteen days of practice produced decent results, but it is always hard to compare when your only opponent is your own team.

My freshmen year organizations are wrapping up, but the interviews and tryouts for next year continue. Seniors in high school have visited for next year’s positions in the majorettes, cheerleading squad, and scholarship opportunities. I have already committed to leadership positions within my fraternity, youth group, and other organizations. The potential and my aspirations for next year are even greater than this past year’s accomplishments. I hate for this year to be over, but I plan for next year to be just as good if not better.