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| That's me in the yellow t-shirt. You don't see? |
Actually, that's not even close.
Sure, there are classes, but there is so much free time around here, it's hard to even focus on working! There is so much to do on campus...people to meet, buildings to explore, people to re-meet, new games to play, walks to take (if it weren't so darn hot! Seriously, outfits are only getting one wear until we stop sweating through our clothes before 2 pm every day.) There have been welcome parties, like the one Friday night in the student center after a concert by every performing arts group on campus. I'm excited to audition for the Vanderbilt Concert Choir this week - I've been singing a lot and my roommate probably thinks I'm weird. (She'll learn.)
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| I'm not sure I've ever seen a legitimate band such as this (Magic Man) perform in person. What have I been doing with my life? |
Or the party Saturday night at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Whoever is in charge of freshman activities definitely pulls out all stops. We've been told by upperclassmen to enjoy the special treatment while it lasts. Security wouldn't let me play Elvis' solid gold piano, but they would let me look happy in front of his "Solid Gold Cadillac." I'll take what I can get.
On a different subject, classes have begun! I still can't get over the fact that "going to class" means less than an hour of sitting and taking notes, with 75% of the learning outside of the classroom. It's incredible. Today is one week since classes began, and I have somewhat of an idea of what each class will be like: lots of reading.
Naturally, moving 400 miles away comes with its own set of challenges. I miss friends and family. I miss having a solid "Janette-work," as my dad likes to call it, of people I know and can really talk to. I miss being able to drive to Cook-Out at all hours of the night and get cheese fries and a chocolate Oreo cheesecake milkshake (idea creds to Isaac). I could make a much longer list of things I might miss about home, but it turns out that that's not such a good idea. Instead, I've made a list of a few things I love about being here.
- It's a new start.
- I have made some absolutely incredible friends. (It's hard to believe I've only known them for a week or two.)
- I can be out as late as I want. Of course, I still text Mom & Dad to tel l them I'm in as I always have, but now I mostly do it to let them know that I am livin' the life.
- The daily selfie exchange between me and my siblings at different points in the day. I'm so grateful for technology.
- People are so friendly and accepting. Sure, part of that is people putting their best foot forward just as I am, but there's a reason Vanderbilt was named the campus with the happiest students. (link).
- Is Commodore Cash the same thing as Monopoly Money, and what is the equivalency ratio to Schrute Bucks?
A few nights after my roommate moved in, it was 9:30 and we were both ready for bed. And then we thought, "wait a second, this is college. Aren't we supposed to, like, do things at night?" We determined that an acceptable time to go to sleep was 10:00, so around 9:45 we took a power nap to make it to 10...and woke up the next morning. Alas.
Today in economics, a buzzing, flying insect landed on me for at least seven seconds. It may have been my scariest moment since being targeted in the band-wide game of Assassin.
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| This is me next to Martha Rivers Ingram, after whom the freshman Commons was named. This one's for you, Martha Jane! |
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| Maybe this is the end of the rainbow. |
I'm very grateful to be here and really try to make the most of every day. I know that this is where I'm supposed to be right now, and that the next four years will bring blessings, discoveries, challenges, and plenty of surprises.
As Gordon B. Hinckley said,
"Do your best, and be a little better than you are."
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