Getting Sorted Out

Ok, I realize yesterday's post was more of a "look at everything I did today" post, and I apologize. It's honestly because there is so much happening on campus at once! Life has been overwhelming and hectic. Talking to new people today confirmed that it's easy to feel guilty for doing nothing for a little bit; there is... almost an unspoken pressure to go out and be active and meet new people!

As we get used to living in on-campus, it's getting easier to cope with everything happening. By the end of this weekend, I hope to have sorted out which activities I *actually* want to do this year/semester, as well as get a few new habits going that I've wanted to start.

For example, this morning I spent mostly by myself, but I still had a nice time! I'm hoping to spend more time observing the libraries on campus later, but Leavey Library filled some time today with all it's books and information on how to best utilize the libraries. I also checked out my first book! Plays by Arthur Miller :)

Another highlight of the day was the Rape prevention presentation all students were required to go to. We complained at first, but the presentation was given in a very clever, informative, and personal style. I really appreciated the approach, especially since it was a play (yay theater!), but also because it brought to heart just how real these issues can be. I hope and pray that neither the people I'm meeting nor my friends from home nor I ever will be assaulted, but it can happen to anyone. How horrible is that thought?

Speaking of rape, I watched a TED talk before I left for college that really touches on how to train future generations against the rape culture, especially our boys. Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueOqYebVhtc

After the presentation, I got to meet some really sweet girls on my floor, and we all went to dinner at EVK together before the "Light up the Coliseum" event. The entire class of 2017 walked to the Coliseum and got to walk through the same walkway as the athletes and onto the field. WOW. It felt so cool!!! We heard the greatest marching band in the entire world, learned some cheers and card stunts, and then played a HUGE mixer "getting to know you" game that I thoroughly enjoyed!!! We met a lot of people, then took a class picture.

Now here's a fun story: there was a mad rush afterwards to get free t-shirts. I was sandwiched between people for a long while before I made my way to the front to get a shirt. Each shirt had a different "trait of a Trojan" on it: Skillful, Faithful, Scholarly, Courageous, or Ambitious. I was hoping to get Courageous or Ambitious on my shirt, but ended up with Scholarly. I was disapointed... but figured I could always trade with someone else later. Turns out that opportunity came up sooner than I expected. As we walked back from the Coliseum, I was talking to a new friend about my hope to trade a shirt out, and a boy in front of me overheard me. We had a very short conversation that went something like this:

-I got Scholarly, but I'm hoping to trade
-I got Ambitious
-Lucky!
-What size are you? Want to trade?
-Yeah!!

So that's how I met my new friend Michael. He ended up showing me and some other friends where the Parkside cafe was! It's got some great food, and I'll definitely be going back sometime. We hung out in the Pardee lounge a bit too, and here I am again now.

I'm really glad about my shirt. Ambitious is a good word for me, as I'm starting to decide what I really want to pursue while I'm here. I'm hoping to participate in one of the sports I mentioned yesterday, a drama organization, a Christian group, class (of course), friendship relationships, an on-campus job, and possibly a volunteer opportunity. I also want to read more, work out as often as I can (hopefully starting tomorrow), and get voice lessons from the Music school.

Very obviously, I will not be able to do all of these at the same time if I expect to get any sleep at night!! But narrowing down my ambitions is a good start, I think. The next step will be to piece together my schedule, bit by bit. Sacrifice is inevitable, but I'm so looking forward to whatever I end up pursuing.

Fight on, friends.

Oh, and pictures of me at the Coliseum to come. I just need to get them from my iPhone... and it's 12:15am, so I don't really feel like doing it now :/