little lessons

Alright, so I have experienced almost an entire month of college thus far, so I'm basically an expert on the topic - well, not quite yet. But anyway, here's an update on the short amount of a college career that I have experienced.

1. I have already moved dorms.

I started out in what I was aware was the "party dorm." I am completely okay with partying, don't get me wrong, but there is a fine line between having a good time and ending up in the health center. I was carrying girls to their dorms nightly and saving them from semi-dressed, belligerently drunk, college boys roaming the halls.
I had to leave my room during "quiet hours" on a weeknight to tell my self-absorbed neighbors to keep it down. I had been sick for a few days and they had all been aware.
They made comments as they walked past my open door, knowing that I could hear every word of their conversation.

2. Do what makes you happy.

You have four years of this. Don't both wasting a moment in a bad situation. It's a waste of time and energy to be in a bad situation when making a little effort can take some time, but dramatically change your level of happiness.
In my new dorm, I am so happy. The girls are welcoming, inclusive, and caring.

3. Be Yourself.

Yes, cliche, I know. But truer words have never been spoken. With my new friends, I am the most "me" that I have ever been. They are accepting and open to my moments of crazy and quiet. They are the kinds of girls that possess genuine concern for their friends, doing everything they can to help them and make them happy.
Going into a new situation, many people can "adjust" their personalities in accordance with what they think their peers would like to hear.

4. Every night does not have to be a party.

Over the past month, the moments that I have shared with my new friends that have brought us closer have always been what would seem to be the least exciting. Our trips to the local Walmart, Kroger, Health Food Store, and FroYo Shop have always been our most fun outings.
Sitting in someone's dorm room, eating ice cream, and watching Gilmore Girls can be the highlight of your week. Don't ever feel the pressure to go out. Yes, be social, but don't feel an obligation to go out every single night and kill brain cells. Have respect for yourself, your grades, and others, they do not want to hold your hair throwing up on the moldy bathroom floor.

Find those people that mirror your values, beliefs, morals, and who you have the best time with.

5. Take those quiet moments.

Everyone needs a moment alone. Away from the crowd, under your covers, watching a Lifetime movie. Take those moments to meditate. Appreciate them, savor them, and take them. 

Also, don't be afraid to get away. A few of my friends and I snuck off to the nearest big city for a trip to Whole Foods. 

6. Immerse yourself.

The worst thing you can do for yourself in this new culture is restrict yourself, i.e. not socializing. Sitting in your dorm all day is not the way to have the "college experience." There is a balance between being a hermit and being sent to the hospital for exhaustion, find that for yourself. 
Also, the town where your college is is more than likely not going to be your hometown. Go out and make yourself a part of this new place. Stop in the stores, converse with the shop owners, walk for some coffee, you are now a member of this new place - take advantage of that!

These are the lessons that I have learned as of my first month. I will keep you posted on the experience through thoughts, pictures, and stories. 

How do these things happen to me?

I don't know how I swing it, but I somehow always manage to find myself in the most uncomfortable situations. We're talking, Larry-David-Curb-Your-Enthusiasm kind of awkward. Now that I am living in a tiny college town, my awkward moments have seemed to skyrocket from bi-weekly to hourly.

Basically the most happening place here is the local Kroger grocery store. I am, as you all already know, quite a foodie - I graze constantly. My fridge is fully stocked due to my food addiction and necessary daily grocery shopping excursions.

So, a few days ago, I ran in to get some snacks and restock my mini-fridge. After making my way down every aisle - can't resist - I finally realized it was time to leave before I bought out the entire store. I noticed that all the lines were full besides one bored-looking checker. After a quick hello, I set my things down not prepared for what would come next.

As any courteous consumer, I inquired about her day and how she was doing. I noticed a flash of sadness in her eyes and knew I was screwed, I couldn't escape now. And this is why her line was the only empty one:

Me: How are you doing today?
Glenda: (long pause) Not well.
Me: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Are you okay?
Glenda: (eyes filling with desperation) No, baby, I'm not. I think my boyfriend broke up with me

               Just out of curiosity, how would you not be
               aware if you are still dating?

Me: Oh that's horrible. I am so sorry.
Glenda: (tearing up) It's alright, he had a horrible drinking habit.
Me: Well, Glenda, you are so much better than that. This is probably the best thing then.
Glenda: You're probably right, (full blown tears) but we been together two years n I love him.
Me: But Glenda, you need to respect yourself enough to say no. He isn't good for you.
Glenda: I know, baby. You are so right.
Me: I know you can do so much better.
Glenda: You're right baby, I can. (Sobbing)

This all occurred while checking out my groceries. How do I manage to place myself in these situations? Just lucky, I guess.

I then told her I would be back to visit her, I will keep you all updated on the Glenda-front. 

Why is it cold already?

You know those days when you just need a taste of home? Well this morning I was feeling that so I popped a Vita in the microwave, smeared on some Chobz Champs and sprinkled some fruit on top. Heaven and home all in one bowl. Mix this with a call home and you have the cure for homesickness, trust me. 

It's September and it's cold. I have never known this before. So dressing for class this morning I was needing a little bit more warmth. This is just a blue maxi dress under a plain white sweater, belted. It's the simple things. Also, no worries, I brushed my hair following this picture… 

So today's the big sorority Greek life meeting on campus in preparation for spring rush. nerve-racking. That means rush dates are starting soon. 

So I know I'm keeping it short and sweet today, but I have papers to write and people to meet. No worries though, I'll keep you updated on college life. 

Too many spray adhesive fumes...

It all started with some fabric… I fell in love with this royal fabric with white coral print while big sis and I were shopping at JoAnn's, we bought it and tried to figure out what we could do with it. And out of it came two DIY projects. 

Both projects included tacky spray adhesive, a good pair of scissors, and some of that fabric! You will also need a lamp shade, tacks, and a cork board.

Project #1 big sis did by herself for me. She covered a cork board in the fabric by first spraying the adhesive, then putting the fabric on, followed by nailing in the studs, and then spraying adhesive on the back to stick down the excess fabric. Gorgeous job, big sis, I can't wait to hang this in my dorm!

workin' away… 

The finished product! 

Project #2 was a fabric covered lamp shade. Same materials: fabric, spray adhesive, scissors and a lamp shade (I got mine at Target, similar to the picture below).

I sprayed the shade, wrapped the fabric tightly around and pressed to keep the fabric sticking to the shade. 

Then I pulled up all of the excess fabric and cut off the extreme excess while keeping about an inch to fold over to the inside of the shade.

I cut the fold-over piece down the center to avoid hitting the metal part of the shade and sprayed the inside of the shade sticking the excess down.

Finished lamp put together!

Such simple projects to show off such a pretty fabric, these will look great in my dorm. No worries, pictures to come in their new home!

Panther Paradise

A little under an hour from my school is a waterfall. Everyone enjoys going there to lay out, appreciate the natural beauty, and of course, swim on the weekends. My friends and I swung a ride with the Christian club at school to go have some fun pray. 

The hype was definitely accurate. Not only was the scenery breathtaking, but the mellow vibe of a waterfall smack-dab in the middle of the forest didn't detract from the experience either. While some were throwing their bodies off of mini-cliffs and slip-n-sliding down rock embankments, I sat, absorbed the heat of the sun, and just took a moment to appreciate the natural beauty of the setting and the enjoyment of being with my new friends. 

Yeah, guys, Virginia is totally hideous...

Today was one of those days that you don't forget. 

Note: college is a time for new experiences, people, and coming into the person that you are destined to be. Take advantage of these opportunities - well, of every opportunity. You may never be in the position to do it again. You won't regret stepping outside that narrow box of yours. Guaranteed. 

First day of school, first day of school!

The day had finally come. After a week of anticipation and preparation, my first day of college began. Unfortunately, my morning did not run quite as smoothly as I had hoped. It began bright and early at 7:30 when I got dressed and headed out to the library to reserve a cubicle. I got a great spot so I decided to celebrate with a little coffee and some breakfast so a friend and I went to The Commons to grab a bite.

According to my schedule, I had class at 9:05 a.m. After scouring campus for my classroom (which ended up being a hall within a building with a completely different name) I walked in. I noticed that a few of the students looked a little perplexed but I thought nothing of it since I was about a minute late - I figured they were all just very punctual. I was handed a syllabus, looked down, and read the course title - it was the philosophy of drugs. This was definitely not what I had signed up for.

How I view all maps

I walked out and began roaming the halls for anything with a pulse to question in regards to my scheduled class. Then it dawned on me that maybe I had written the wrong class down and was late not for computer science but for environmental, writing, or journalism. I opened my computer and after a near seizure, discovered that apparently I was unable to distinguish the difference between the words "Tuesday" and "Thursday." After a successful meltdown, I headed back to my room because my next class was not until 3.

When I arrived at my dorm though, my swipe card was nowhere to be found. I was locked out in the rain so I began pacing the exterior of the building for a passerby to let me in. When I finally made it up to my room, I discovered that my phone was also missing. There is a very strict honor code at my school so I was not so much concerned that someone had stolen it as I was that I had misplaced it never to be found.

Something like this would definitely happen to me

After multiple trashcan searches, phone calls, and backpack dives, I recovered it in the depths of my backpack.

And this was all before 11 a.m. Needless to say, the morning of my first day of college shaped up to be pretty rough, but remember: shit happens. And it happens to everyone. Get passed it, move on, don't let it be a burden to you. Not many things are worth melting down over.

The rest of the day though worked out really well. I am absolutely obsessed with my English professor! The class is all about "haunted asylum/ghost/historical" stories. Creepy? Yes. Weird? Yes. Do I love it? Yes.

Note to everyone on the first day of school: don't let the little things get to you, not worth a mental breakdown and it'll only stress you out more. And, it can only get better!

Word of the week: Adjustment

It's been a few days since my last post, and that is because I just completed "O-week" at my new school, AKA freshman orientation week. It has been a complete whirlwind, what with movies, presentations, convocation, speeches, seminars, discussions, and cook-outs. Doing all this is hard enough, but with the added pressure of meeting new people and making new friends, it has been thoroughly exhausting.

At my old school, I was fortunate enough to find my best friends in literally the first day of orientation. They were in my homeroom so they were actually the first people I met. Who knew we'd all still be best friends 4 years later?

I wasn't expecting lightening to strike in the same place twice, so I knew it would be a struggle to find my "group," especially at a school where my grade is twice the size of my high school's graduating class. I have made a lot of acquaintances and some good friends. While I realize the first few weeks are the hardest, I have been doing everything I can to immerse myself into this new situation and culture.

The key to these new situations though: put yourself out there. Make sure that you get to know these new people as yourself and don't be afraid to introduce yourself to strangers. Don't forget: have fun. College is often referred to by others as "the best time of their life," so live a little and get out there.

Words of advice from a Class of 2016 O-Week graduate.