Crunch Time

I'm in the home stretch of the end of the semester, which ends of May 15th.

I have the following standing in my way:

• a 5 - 8 page Philosophy paper
• a 6 page paper on Othello
• 90 more pages of a novel
• a chapter review assignment
• designing a web page
• a Computer Science test
• a Sociology paper

And then, the following exams:

• Computer Science final
• English Literature essay final
• Philosophy essay final
• Writing Proficiency Exam

Two weeks. Just a little over two weeks. I can do this.

I honestly can't believe that my Freshman year of college is practically over... I feel like I've grown a lot this year, and with all the things that are coming up soon, I feel very optimistic that that growth will continue throughout the summer and next year. It's just strange to think that I'll be done my first year and turning twenty soon; I feel like I just moved in!

How time flys when you're having fun. ;-)

I Really Wish I Were 21 Right Now

It's raining on Long Island. What a surprise.

As for the title, I was supposed to be attending a concert tonight in NYC. Chris Mann (who opened for Idina Menzel during her fall tour) is playing, and I was so pumped to go. Got on the guest list and everything (it's a private event), and then found out that it's 21+ admission. Why didn't they advertise that on anything?! Ugh.

This being the case, I now have nothing to do tonight except homework and listening to Chris Mann songs on YouTube. You should all really check out his cover of Kanye West's "Heartless"; it's so much better than the original. ;-)

He has a page on Facebook, so definitely check it out and become his fan! I really hope he comes back to NYC or stops in Philadelphia sometime soon.

Forgetful

Wow... I kind of forgot about this old thing...

Anyway, I don't plan on keeping this up as a "personal blog"- I am a devoted member of an artist's website (www.deviantart.com) and I write about my daily life and such there in journal posts, so another place like that is kind of irrelevant.

Instead, I'd like to turn this into a forum-type outlet. Somewhere where I can post thoughts, things I'm learning, topics I'd like to discuss and have people comment and start conversations.

We'll see how well that gets going.

Best time of my life?

It's crazy how your perceptions of things can change so quickly. And how something can turn your world upside down in a split second.

Let's just say I'm not feeling so great.

I moved in to college last Thursday, and the move in was unexpectedly easier than I had imagined. It didn't take long at all to set things up, figure out how to organize everything, get a feel for where I live. I even took the train into NYC on Saturday, all by myself, for the first time, which was a little nerve wracking, and managed to make it there and back without harm.

But overall, I don't know how I feel about being here yet. I mean, maybe it will change once classes start, which happens tomorrow by the way, but I just feel out of place. Here's why:

1. Practically everyone on campus drinks/smokes. Now, smoking is one thing which I can usually tolerate. But I am definitely not the type of person who wants to go out every single night and get drunk. I don't even drink at all in the first place. So this makes it a little difficult to meet new people when my ENTIRE building is gone at night to the local brew.

2. My room mates are rather different than I am. Which is fine. Of course, I wasn't expecting us to be exactly alike, and we've been getting along just fine. But there is something about living in the same room and vicinity with people that kind of drives me crazy. I like time to myself, and I think I'm starting to feel cramped already. Let's pray that this goes away.

3. I really miss home. I never thought it'd be this bad, actually. I was so excited to come, but now that I've been here for a little while, it feels like a vacation that is just going to end soon... and it's not. Like, when I talk to my mom on the phone, I almost want to burst out in tears. It's an odd feeling, to say the least.

4. I'm an introverted person. I like doing things by myself, I have my habits, and I can feel independent when I'm on my own doing things. So, going to dinner with my 3 room mates every night is fine, but it's something I have to get used to. I'm sure this will be easier once classes start though, since we won't all feel like we need to be attached at the hip anymore.

I guess that's enough ranting out of me on that subject.

The other thing about living here right now is that there are quite a few things I had forgotten to bring with me. Therefore, I'm waiting on a large package from my mother, which should arrive on Wednesday, that has some more items for my dorm in it. Hopefully, these will help this place feel more like home. Even though it definitely won't be the same.

Anyway, classes start tomorrow. My first is Writing Studies & Composition I at 8 AM, which might be a hassle to get my butt to. Then I have to attend the New Student Convocation for all freshmen at 11:15, which means my How Writers Break the Rules-And Why class is canceled for tomorrow. Then I have my literature class at some point- the exact time escapes me at this moment.

So, hopefully I fall into a routine of sorts and college will get more interesting. Hopefully there is more to some of these people than just drinking and partying. We'll just have to see.

Leaving Home

I leave for college in 3 days... Oh. My. Goodness.

I really don't think it's hit me yet. Like, packing is a HUGE indication that I'm leaving home, don't get me wrong, but it still doesn't seem final. It's like, "Oh, I'm going off to school" but it just hasn't hit me that I'll be on my own and in COLLEGE. Wow.

Not that I'm not excited, either. It's just crazy to think of how big a change this is.

I still have a lot to do. I need to pack about 60% of my stuff still, plus tie up some loose ends with things around home. Trying to clean my room up, as well, so my mother doesn't have to deal with the pigsty while I'm away.

Luckily, I think my room mate will work out really great. Technically, I share the room with three girls, but there's two of us to each bedroom. I've talked to my official room mate quite a few times, and she seems really excited to meet me. She also loves shopping, and I think we listen to a lot of the same music. I can't wait to meet her, either. :)

Ah! New York! I just can't wait. I mean, anxiety and all aside, it will be awesome. I can't doubt that.

New Form of Diary

I've been meaning to create a blog for a while now. I actually used to keep a diary, one with a little lock and everything. I wrote in it everyday, and upon finding it again, it made me laugh to read the silly little things I wrote about in there.

But now I'm going into my Freshman year of college, and I figured, why not have that same opportunity? To see exactly what I was thinking, doing, contemplating when I look back at this 10 years from now?

Since I don't always have time to sit down with a notebook everyday, an online blog works out perfectly. I mean, technology is taking over our lives, and I will admit that I spend too much time online.

This is where it will start. This is just a basic introduction sort of post. Much more will come.