I am writing this post from
the library, which I do many times. I
think I may have previously mentioned my hatred for doing work in libraries,
but please humor me as I rant some more about my extreme dislike of these
locations of learning. Here it goes.
Libraries are quiet. Too quiet. I feel like I should silence the keyboard on my laptop because my typing
is making too loud of a typing noise. People are coughing—all over the place—which makes me question just how
sanitary this place is. The tables are
positioned in strange arrangements so that whenever I look up from my studying
or whatever I’m doing at the time, nine times out of ten I make awkward eye
contact with someone at an opposite table. I never have all of the things I need to get proper studying done. Need a highlighter? I have one!…at home in my room, i.e. not in
the library where I am now, needing a highlighter. Finished your Spanish homework early and need to do biology? Too bad! Biology book is back at the dorm. Want to listen to your favorite song? Great! But you can’t, because
you would disturb the other library patrons.
The study section is on the third floor. I enter on the first floor/basement. I have to climb three flights of stairs with a bag full of heavy
textbooks to get to my desired location. By the time I get there, I am out of breath and my calves are sore so of
course, everyone who is already there stares at me. I can’t take the elevator because the beeping is extremely loud
which just announces to the entire library, “HEY! THIS GIRL IS TOO LAZY TO TAKE THE STAIRS! GLARE AT HER PLEASE!” I have been emotionally scarred. I am terribly sorry that I had to bore you
all with my ramblings about what you may think is nonsense but in reality is vital
information. In conclusion, I hate the library,
My fall break is not until next month but I am
already planning what I am going to do! My best college friend who is from an unnamed state far away is
going to come home with me and I am so excited! I am from an area that a lot of other people are from too (if that
makes sense) so a lot of people I know will be there too and hopefully we will
all be able to hang out. I am really
excited to show my friend where I’m from. I know that sounds cheesy but it’s true! I’m going to show her my school and my favorite places to eat,
etc. And we are going to do some major
shopping. That’s probably the highlight
of the whole trip. I live kind of close
to a large area of water, which shall also remain unnamed, so we will be making
a trip there too!
My mother, bless her heart, wants me to call
home everyday. That would be great and
all, but there is no way that I have time to do that. I have classes all day and when I’m not in class I’m in meetings
or at the library or doing homework. I
can’t call on my way to class because that’s just rude and I don’t want
everyone on the quad to hear my conversation, and I can’t call at night because
I get finished with all of my things at an indecent hour of the night/early
morning which would also be rude if I were to call then. I can’t win in this situation. I have tried to explain these facts to my
parents but they don’t seem to understand. When I do call, it’s like they expect me to fill them in on the meaning
of life. Which I do not have the answer
to at this time. I completely get that
they miss me and want to know what’s going on in my life, but seriously, I
can’t call and tell them what I have for lunch everyday. That’s just ridiculous. I love them and I love to talk to them but I
can’t do it as frequently as they would like. I’m sorry.
I have decided that my very favorite thing about going
to a larger university/college is that you are bound to know people that other
people know. It’s crazy. People from all over the country come to my
school and yet I seem to know someone from everywhere! The first question that people ask when they
find out where you are from is: “Oh really? Do you know so and so?” I think
it’s great. It shows just how small the
world really is and once you establish that relationship, you immediately have
a connection with the other person. This
happened to me with three different people at lunch today and it pretty much
happens everyday. It makes me feel like
I know a whole lot more people than I really do, which makes me feel happy and
loved!
I was nominated to go to a leadership program/camp
thing this weekend. I am very honored
to have been chosen for this event but it really could not have come at a worse
time. I literally just found out about
it yesterday and I’m leaving this afternoon! It’s kind of bad, though, because I have a million things to do this
weekend and two major tests plus a paper coming up so I really need all the
free time I can get. But it looks like
I won’t be getting any of it done! I
guess that’s just another lesson in time management.
So in case you couldn’t decipher from the title,
my birthday was this week. It is weird
having a birthday away from home. Your
family isn’t there to make you feel special and your old friends aren’t there
to celebrate. The creepy part though
was that everyone that I’m Facebook friends with knew about it so it was weird
having people that I’ve just met tell me happy birthday. Two of my good friends that I’ve made while
I’m here at college threw me a surprise party and baked me a cake and
everything. It was so sweet of
them! It really helped make it less
“new” and more friend-like. That doesn’t
really make a lot of sense but you get my point. I also don’t feel older. I feel older for having been at college and out on my own but my
birthday just felt like another day. I
always hated when people asked me that question because it didn’t make any
sense, but I think that it’s definitely the events and changes in your life
that age you, not a number on a cake.
Not to brag or anything, but I’m a pretty good
student. All through high school I made
excellent grades and balanced my time between homework and extracurricular
activities very well. College, however,
has been a huge adjustment. I know I
talked about it earlier so bear with me, but the schedule in college is just so
different. I am the kind of person that
has to study by myself in my room and for a good block of time. But I can’t really do that here. I have to go to a certain number of “study
sessions” at the library for an organization that I am in, and I just can’t
concentrate there so I wind up not doing much at the library (for hours) and
then I have to come back to my room and study all over again (for hours). It is a weird feeling. This week I am STILL getting over being sick
and I have a lot of work due (papers to write, tests, interviews) so I decided
to take it easy with the outside activities. It has been pretty productive so far, but then I find myself getting
easily distracted and I don’t get near as much work done as I would like. It is frustrating. I guess I just haven’t gotten into a good routine yet. Hopefully that will come soon.
Ok so in case you didn’t know it, football is a
big deal. And I’m sure you’re saying to
yourself, “No it’s not. I don’t
particularly care about football and I am living my life just fine!” Well friend, you are wrong. Football at my school (which is my world
right now) is more than just a big deal. It is life for that weekend. The
entire town shuts down. Stores are
closed. Roads are blocked. People act crazy. And, even with all of this, I LOVE it! I don’t really know a whole lot about the game, but it doesn’t
really matter! The whole campus comes
alive and rallies around one universal cause (beating the opposing team), and I
think it’s great. The quad is covered
with tailgaters and everyone has cookouts and parties. The campus is overflowing with students,
alumni, kids, grandparents, and guests. I think it is just a fine example of school spirit and you really can’t
help but get caught up in it!
I’m sick. My roommate is sick. My friends
are sick. Everyone I know is sick. Thankfully it is just a cold and doesn’t require any prescription
medications but man! It sure runs
things down! As much fun as residence
hall living and hanging out with your friends 24/7 is, when everyone around you
gets something, you are getting it too. It’s mainly just a hassle, though. I can’t really do as much as I want to—in order to preserve my health—and
it is making me really tired. However
the most annoying part is that my voice is now at least five registers lower
than it normally is so whenever I talk to someone I have to explain the
change. Needless to say, it gets
awkward when meeting new people. Anyway, I’ve been sick for about a week now and I am sick of being
sick! It is annoying (especially when I
am coughing in the super quiet library)! I wish it would just go away. I
know that it will in time, but I am a little impatient.
School is definitely picking up pace. Classes are becoming more involved, they
require more work, and they are even beginning to post grades. However, as usual, college is more than just
school. As classes pick up pace, so do
other events around campus. Different
campus programs and clubs are just starting meetings or applications and
interviews are being held. I’ve already
joined a few organizations and I have applied to more (I have an interview next
week—wish me luck!). It just seems like
there is no time for anything else! I
called my mom this morning and was trying to explain why I haven’t had time to
call home more often but it’s hard to explain. Everything just runs on a different schedule here. The best graduation present I got was a
planner and it is full of notes to myself, reminders, etc. I always used one in high school to write
down homework but now that there is so much more going on, I really need it. It’s a lifesaver for real.
