The Beginning of the Beginning

I have been in college for approximately two days. I am attending Vanderbilt University in hopes of earning an honorable degree and continuing on to graduate school. I might become a lawyer; I might become a psychiatrist; I might drop out of school and sell used cars, but that's less likely. Coming to Vanderbilt is the very first of many steps I will be taking over the next few years to set my life on track and become a unique, independent, self-sufficient adult.



5:00 am selfie with Charlotte on August 12

 


Landing in Nashville at 8 am

My lovely helpers, Martha Jane and Mom :) They were
so sweet to stay and do most of my unpacking
while I went to band camp.



Did we buy enough stuff?

 

As I said, I have been in college for about two days.  I moved in on Tuesday, August 12, the first day of band camp. I loved my high school band experience, unique as it was, so much, that I had to try the real thing in college! So I am officially the synthesizer (electronic keyboard) player for the Spirit of Gold marching band! I can't believe I'm actually a full-on member of a marching band! Anyway, this band is particularly cool because it is made up of students from Vanderbilt, Belmont, Trevecca, Lipscomb, and other surrounding colleges. In the past two days, we have learned an entire pre-game show and started stands music (those of us in the front ensemble get to play the cymbals! I am so excited!) I love practicing in the stadium, in front of 60,000 invisible people. I can not wait to perform on game day! August 28, ESPN. Don't miss it. I have made some great friends, especially within my section, gotten sunburned, gotten sassed by my instructor (somehow I come across as snarky...) and learned how to beat anyone at rock-paper-scissors. It's 95% guaranteed and science. I will win.


Did I mention we get to wear Vandy baseball caps to march?
 I do love hats.

 

 



Hank Ingram dorms, a/k/a "Hotel Hank"

 


MJ helping unpack. I appreciate her help, but she better
know I saw she stole my Cheez-Its!

 


Enough space to live, not enough to let it get messy



I've noticed the influence of my friends and family on me through things I say, do, or think about.  I've also noticed similarities between people I know from home and those I am just now meeting.  I'm grateful for an incredible high school career, full of instructors who cared for and mentored me into becoming sure of myself as an individual.  It hit me yesterday that I am accountable to myself. That's it. If I want to go explore campus, watch Netflix, or go out for pancakes at 2 in the morning, I can.  There are no room checks, no hall sweeps, no taking away phones for misbehavior, none of that. I am accountable to myself and, as my own hardest critic, I'm going to keep myself on the straight and narrow.  Of course, the fact that I'm not in high school anymore means that school doesn't have to play clean versions of songs, and instructors can do as they please (which will hit home even more once classes begin August 20.) Finally, I've cemented my belief that you can never eat too many Tootsie Rolls, and I know my Grandma Mackay would back me up on this. I may have to restock sooner than I thought.

Band has been my entire waking life since Tuesday, and it has been a blast. At the same time, I am thoroughly excited for my roommate to move in on Saturday with the rest of the first-years, for classes to start, for my first time getting lost, for the homesickness, for the many FaceTimes of the future, for church, and all else that is to come.  It's nice to be in a new environment, not knowing anyone, and able to make a completely new name for myself.  It helps that no one knows anyone either - everyone is just out to make friends and have the best experience possible. I'm so grateful for the friends I've made here and those back home with whom I do and will keep in contact.  Here's to the beginning of a great four years!