I'm a Big Kid Now!

I wasn't much into the blogging world during my first semester of college, which I kind of regret because it would be fun to go back through and read the memories. So tonight I decided I would recap everyone (and myself!) of my very fun/stressful/tiring/interesting/crazy first semester as a college student!

On August 20th, 2009, I moved out of my parents home and made the 45-minute trek to Harding University in Searcy. I was beyond excited, let me tell you! I had a countdown going all summer!

I took 15 hours that semester- Chemistry & lab, Music Appreciation, Speech, New Testament (amazing class!), Wellness, and Nursing 100. Soon it was time to branch out and make friends. What better way than to join a club! No, not like drama club. Us private school kids have "clubs" instead of sororities . Mixers began and I went to a few different clubs. Iota Chi (Jesus Christ in Greek) stood out to me most- and, their colors are fuschia and black! So, I decided it was the club for me! I went to the rest of the mixers and then was invited to Visitation (definition: going to every girls' room and getting to know them.)

Once Visitation was complete, we had to wait until bid day. I prayed a pink and black card would be sent to my room. It was! Then, the "fun" began! Club book, bags, shoes, dress code, pumpkin pie slip-and-slide, all-club devo in the GAC, chanting "pink and black until we die," memorizing names and offices, major dates & minor dates, several trips to Wal-Mart, crying in the student center, deciding I wanted out, Beth talking me up, a dorm room that threw up pink and black tool, picking pumpkin seeds out of my hair for hours, 7 hours of sleep all week, avoiding the student center at ALL costs, dance off, Unity shirts, "eenie meenie minie mo, all you girls in the clubs wanna know, Iota Chi!" And of course, rough night.

My roommate Mackae-Lynn, from California, was cool but I think we were far too different to continue living together! My roommate Spring semester is Alli, one of my pledge sisters! And, I love my suitemate Beth! She's my Harding bestie. Bethy Boo, this is a shout out to you! Here's to pizza/movie Wednesday's, braving the caf, baking!, snuggle time, Set the Fire to the Third Bar, hot movie rental guy, McDonalds, surviving club week, and The O.C.!

I very much enjoyed decorating my dorm for holidays, too! During Halloween we had a banner of witch heads that strung across our bathroom, and paper pumpkins in our room! Christmas was even funner. I strung lights, wrapped the doors in paper, bought a pink wreath!, cut out paper snowflakes, and put up a tree! It was very festive.

Harding offers several ways to become involved in community service. A friend and I went to the Sunshine School which is a school for children with handicaps. It was an amazing experience and I'm so glad that I went! They were the sweetest kids and I loved playing with them. The boy in the picture below was my "buddy" for the time we were there. He was almost blind, but he still loved to swing!

Finals. Um, no one ever tells you how hard those are! High school is "semester test." No no, not the same. At all. Thank you Sears dormitory for stocking the vending machine with Nos and hot fries. I'm not entirely sure what I would have done without you! Also, thank you Beth for laying in my empty room and half-watching The O.C. while filling out thousands of notecards! That all nighter was fun :) Disclaimer for picture below: it was finals. Don't jude our appearance.

And finally, thank you to my besties who came to visit. I love school but I sure miss my girls! I love sharing my world with you.

I learned a lot about myself this semester! It was a great experience and I made so many wonderful friends. I can't wait to see what Spring 2010 has to offer me. When I know, so will you.

“You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You’ll never remember class time, but you’ll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don’t have. The work never ends, but college does…”

-Tom Petty