Senior Year: Week One
Before this blog even saw the light of day, I spent weeks writing down titles for blog posts that I could manage and create on a moment's notice, and this title was one such instance. I thought that after a week of school being in session, I would have a more concrete understanding of the term to come, but I'm just as hazy on the topic as I was last week. Perhaps that's because the idea of being in school hasn't fully hit since I've only had three classes and I was in California this past weekend. Let me back up a bit, and start from where I left off last week.
Last Wednesday, I wrote a pretty melodramatic post about the incoming school year as it ominously approached and began. Funnily enough, I don't have classes on Wednesdays, so it was a pretty anticlimactic way to start the term. That Thursday, I was reintroduced to running around on-campus between classes and my second job, which was exhausting. Even with that, the feeling of "school has started" was absent from my regular revolving carousel of emotions. Setting aside my classes for a moment, though, this past Friday, I was finally able to participate in club activities actively again.
I was going to use a brighter edit, but I already look enough like a ghost here. From left to right: Anthony and Casper the Friendly Ghost.
To the left, you will see a picture of myself and my dear friend Anthony goofing at our club booth at our school's club fair. Our organization, BridgeUSA, has been an integral part of my college experience, as a place of comfort and growth. To summarize our mission, our organization is dedicated to bridging the political divide and creating a space to have polite, empathetic, and intellectual conversations on controversial topics. Through this group, I have been able to meet so many spectacular people who, not only, have become life-long friends but people who push me to explore different viewpoints. This past summer, Anthony gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, full creative control over our club's website (which is linked here).
If I didn't mention already, I am a psychology major, and as of right now, I have no intention of using my degree with its intended purpose. Being that I was only sixteen when I entered college, my thought process on choosing a major was less about what I wanted to do, and more about what people didn't want me to do. So yes, I choose my major out spite, and now I've realized that that's not the most fabulous way to decide on a future. But hindsight is always 20/20.
Back to the story. The reason Anthony's offer was so significant is that, as of right now, I am looking at going into website/graphic design (quite a jump I know). So being given, essentially a blank canvas and being told "go for it," was a dream come true; it came out pretty damn good if I do say so myself.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this long-winded story, I went to California this weekend for a wedding. I got to see two people I've known, essentially for my whole life, get married, and was magical. Another highlight of that trip was being able to see my family. My parents and little sister live in Florida, so living on the complete opposite side of the country isn't really conducive to casual get-togethers. Even though it was a brief trip, I'll take all of the time I can get. Pictured in the revolving slideshow above are my mom, dad, aunt, and younger sister.
Back to the present, as of right now, I have attended at least one class session for all of my on-campus courses, and I have a somewhat clear understanding of what the expectations for the term are. So far, it seems like I'm not gonna die. Sure, I'm still not all that keen on doing schoolwork again, but if there's one thing I can do correctly, it's bullshitting eloquently. I know colleges aren't interested in slightly vulgar catchphrases but I, personally, think that "bullshit eloquently" should be the College of Liberal Arts slogan. Better yet, let's find a way to translate that into Latin and paste it across the top of our diplomas.
So let's recap: school started, but not really; I had a kickass weekend in California with my family; my degree is pretty much useless asides from using it to fluff up a paper you don't want to write. I'd say that's a pretty good start if I do say so myself.