I haven't written a real post in a while (still waiting on a sufficient ipad app!) so I decided to post something I wrote a while ago. I wrote this the summer following my first year at a women’s college. For the most part, I have left this as it was when I wrote it. But look for my current comments in bold.
1. I am a big baby. I cry. I want my momma…a lot. I miss my
family. I sleep with my blankie and stuffed animal. Sometimes, I beg my
mom to sleep in the bed with me. I don’t like to be alone. I squeal at
the thought of a trip to Build-A-Bear. These are all habits that have
developed this year.
Still true, minus the Build-a-Bear trip.
2. How long you live in a town has nothing to do with how much you miss it.
I still find myself missing Moultrie, and it's people all the time.
3. Heroes don’t always fight the “man” or wear tights and a cape. They
don’t always score to win the game or flaunt their bodies on the
catwalk. Sometimes, your hero can be a college chaplain in his 80’s.
4. College gives you lots of opportunities. Some will bring you closer
to God than you’ve ever been. And others will make you feel like you’ve
turned your back and ran from him. Be smart. Try to choose frequent
the opportunities that bring you closer, but don’t worry. If you do
turn your back, he’ll come chasing after you.
5. Never miss an
opportunity to save money. Go to China Buffet Mon-Thurs. for lunch,
clip coupons like it’s your homework, and try your darndest to only eat
the food the school provides (this means showing up to anything
before/after dining hall hours to get free food).
6. By all means…be frugal. Your parents will thank you.
7. Best friends come in all packages. They don’t have to be your age;
they might be in high school still, or maybe are graduating the year you
come in. They don’t have to be your roommate, but they can be. They
don’t have to think the same, vote the same, act the same or look the
same. In fact, sometimes the best friends are none of these things.
8. Those girls you said you’d never ever be friends with in high
school…well they go to Womens’ colleges and you WILL be her friend in
college. Get over yourself. Nothing humbles a gal like college.
9. You think that if you go to an all girls’ school, you’ll still
probably get up and get pretty in the mornings, shower, shave, and
things like that. You probably will go weeks without doing each of those
things…either at the same time or at separate points in the semester.
And there's nothing wrong with that! College was my time to learn that I was intelligent, and THAT was what as important. Not how great I look in a mini skirt, freshly shaven legs, and a bucket of makeup.
10. Boys are NOT a good reason for picking a college…Education will get you SO much further in life.
11. Don’t talk crap about how awful your hometown is. It isn’t. Chances
are, you’re being a brat. It’s not that bad. In fact, deep down
inside, you LOVE your hometown.
12. Christmas break will be the
best thing ever. It’s filled with catching up, parties, bonfires, and lots
of late nights with great friends. Take your exams and get home ASAP.
13. No matter what your parents say, EVERYONE gets tattoos/piercing in
college. Okay, so not everyone, but a large majority. And I truly
believe that the line “no one will hire you” is bull. If that were true,
in a few years, our unemployment level will be through the roof and no
intelligent people will have jobs. Having a tattoo/piercing in NO WAY
makes you stupid/bad/sketchy/rebellious.
This was obviously before i knew about our current recession....but still. Heed #14, but you're not damned to hell if you get piercings or tattoos.
14. Number 13 being
said, don’t be a moron, getting matching clover tattoos on the small of
your back with your “bff for life” is just not practical. Get
something for you, not for others or to show off and post pictures on
facebook.
15. Keep a journal. It will become your lifeline.
This is one of those situations where I need to follow my own advice. I was SO good about this as a first year.
16. Don’t tell God your plans; He WILL change them. Let him make the
plans and you follow them. It usually works better that way. (I “told”
God that I felt him telling me not to date and that I wouldn’t date
anyone all first year of college…and he sent me a great guy).
This is still true, but now I would word it more as "Life will bring you what you need when you least expect it."That great guy is no longer around, but I learned so much from that relationship, and it led me to Brian in a round-about way, another blessing I received when I least expected it.
17. Skype is immensely better than telephone calls. It is another lifeline.
18. Youtube and Facebook keep you from being productive…always and without fail.
19. For those of you who think high school ends after graduation, think
again. There is college drama just like high school. It’s about the
same but with more freedom and much more work.
And it will continue in the workplace...ugh.
20. If you’re
one of those smart kids who never had to study in high school, College
will wake you up from your little dream world, like it did to me. You
can’t make straight A’s or even B’s in college without major studying.
21. Not everyone is as modest/immodest as you are. Make sure your
roommates don’t mind you walking around naked/in your underwear before
you do so. Save yourself some embarrassment.
22. No matter what they say, I could never share a bathroom with a whole hall of girls, or even a half of a hall. No way, Jose.
23. Don’t complain about certain cliques if you don’t even try to talk
to them. If basketball players will take ME in, you should be okay.
24. There is less drama at a women’s college. But still drama. Just
because boys aren’t around, don’t kid yourself. Girls are girls. They
will find something to fight about.
And Lesbians love drama (at least
Wesleyan Lesbians do). It’s just a whole different type of drama.
Woah, first year Taylor! Not okay!...let's just mark that part out, shall we?
25. You WILL develop weird pet peeves and bizarre phobias. Accept it.
26. I adore gay people. Lesbians, Homos…I adore every fiber of their
gay existence. And I’ve figured out why. Gay people are gay people. No
apologies, they aren’t fake. They don’t apologize for who they are. You
take them or leave them. And I take them.
27. The best
classmates are encore students. They are a hoot. They will keep you in
stitches and will beat the pants off you as far as grading goes. Be
prepared to have your butt kicked by an old lady with the heart of an
18 year old.
I'll admit there were certain classes where I did not feel this way. But they are still pretty brave for doing what they're doing.
28. Being raped is constantly on my mind. It
brings me to tears when girls WALK TO KROGER alone at midnight. That is
so stupid. Don’t be SO trusting of the world. Take this from the mouth
of a idealist; even if you like to think that there’s good in
everyone, some people have a lot of bad in them too. Be careful.
This is probably not how I would word this now, but we have to be careful! Unfortunately, we live in a world where awful things happen. It will NEVER be your fault if you are assaulted. That being said, please be aware of your surroundings!
29. Clutter is stressful.
30. Professors are hilarious, but ALWAYS take them more seriously than they take themselves
31. Let me clear up a worldwide question: Yes, Wesleyan has male professors.
32. You will hear things you’ve never heard before and talk about
things that make you uncomfortable. Have an open-mind but don’t be too
quick to forget what you believe.
33. Holding hands
with/kissing the cheek of/using the term “girlfriend” for a girl who’s a
friend takes on a completely different meaning at a Women’s College.
Be prepared for change.
34. You will see things and hear things
in college you’ve never seen or heard before. Grow up and don’t gawk.
Come out of your little box you’ve been living in your whole life, now
step outside of it and GET OVER IT.
35. Diversity makes life 4574983908465 times better. Embrace it. Seek it.
36. Pay attention to Politics, whether you like them or not. It’s important. And for God’s sake, VOTE.
37. Don’t feel like you are wasting your time or are strange if you
watch at least two movies a week. That is how I survived this semester
and kept a relative level of sanity.
38. Your bible can be your best friend: it’s always there and never talks back.
39. If life changes you, let it.
40. Wesleyan is filled with amazing talent and some freakishly bright
young women. Expect big things to come from this Generation of
Wesleyannes, world.
41. Live life on purpose.
42. You
will slowly but surely learn to love morbid humor. It has a lot to do
with the life that hours and hours of studying sucks out of you.
43. Loaded Questions is best played with a dirty mind.
44. Travel whenever you can. Even if its just to the next county over.
45. Forget what those lame kids say, long-distance works if it’s supposed to and both people work hard.
46. I thrive off of human contact. However, lots of people don’t like to be touched.
47. Be passionate in all you do. Life is more fun that way. Don’t be a middle of the road kind of person.
48. College is no reason to be a bad friend.
49. Save everything.
50. Enjoy the scenery on a detour.
51. If you’re bad with directions, learn to be good with them. You’ll
be in a new town without a mommy or daddy to drive you or walk you
through things. And your GPS won’t work when you really need it to.
52. Knowledge is no substitute for hard work. They go hand in hand.
53. Follow the cliché “Actions speak louder than words”
54. Be honest but don’t be honest at other’s feeling’s expense.
55. Do it now, Deal with fear later.
56. Don’t complain about how “fortunate” you are. We don’t want to hear
it. Instead, realize how blessed you are and live accordingly.
57. Starbucks is a safe haven for meetings, studying, and anything
else. It has become my home away from home, my dorm when I’m tired of
my dorm, and the end of having money in my checking account.
58. Never underestimate the comfort/cuteness of cotton dresses. If I could live solely in a cotton gap dress, I would.
59. Don’t do something just because everyone else does. Stand up for
yourself. Have a spine. Your true friends will really respect you for
it.
60. Write letters. Mail makes people so happy.
61.
Thank you notes are the best way to make someone sure that you
appreciate them. I told myself I’d NEVER write another thank you note
after graduation as long as I live. I was wrong.
62. I do not
understand when people my age get in trouble for over drafting their
bank account but their parents won’t let them get a job. This makes no
sense.
63. Speaking of jobs, GET ONE! It’s important for learning responsibility and for truly feeling independent.
64. I adore surprises.
65. Be nice to your family. Tell them you love them. You do and you know it.
66. Buy your textbooks online, Comparison shop. Then buy cute clothes
with the money you save. Your parents will totally be proud.
67. Don’t EVER fight being thrown in the fountain; you’ll miss it someday.
PREACH!
68. You will miss home cooking.
69. Show a little respect for dining hall food Some kids never get to
eat, much less go to college. And they work hard to make the food as
good as they can for large amounts of people.
Seriously, this is a huge pet peeve of mine.
70. Keep up with yourself. No one came to college to be your mom.
71. Check your email. It’s the main source of info on a college campus, especially such a small one.
72. You always feel better when you get up in time for breakfast and work out.
73. Sleeping late makes for a good, but less productive day.
74. I have taken more naps this year than I have in my entire life.
75. Go to pep rallies. They are so much fun!
76. If you don’t like our traditions, stay in your room. If you don’t
like the college, transfer. Don’t make everyone else miserable just
because you dislike something optional.
77. Seize the Day!
78. Try new things
79. I am pretty sure that if I ever meet the person who invented boy’s basketball shorts, I will kiss them on the mouth.
80. Guys don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses, probably because
they respect them. Don’t let a man/woman fall in love with you because
of your smokin’ hott bod or how gorgeous you are. Looks will fade. You
will get saggy or gain weight. Brains and being beautiful on the inside
may not always get the guy/gal, but when they don’t, chances are you
wouldn’t have wanted him anyway.
81. Don’t smoke. It is not in
the least bit flattering and no amount of perfume can cover up the
smell. It yellows your pearly whites and makes you have an awful cough.
It’s just yuck. It may seem like everyone does it; all the more reason
for you to avoid it.
82. Though the Golden Heart Lake is toxic
and may cause you to grow extra appendages, it is so gorgeous to watch
the sunset over it.
Okay, so it's not really toxic...but there are snapping turtles in there.
83. All it takes to turn hundreds of brilliant, mature, world-changing women into little girls is a few feet of snow on campus.
83. Dorms are gross, but rugs make it more homey.
84. Sweep, vacuum, and wipe down your counters. It will make your room/bathroom smell good and no one likes a yucky dorm.
85. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Laugh as often as you get the chance.
86. Cherish the sisterhood. It’s like a sorority, but much less obnoxious.
87. Don’t stay locked up in your dorm. You will be miserable. Explore
campus, walk around, and GO to events. It makes life busy and fun.
88. Go to as many concerts as you can afford. It’s a joy of college. It’s what you’re supposed to do!
89. Find a church in the area to go to. There are lots of little old ladies who would just love someone to cook and care for ☺
90. Read
[for fun] whenever you get the chance. It’s so good for your brain.
91. Workout! It’s so easy to gain weight and let yourself go when you
stay up late studying and eating. You’ll feel better and thank yourself
when you have a fit body after the hard work all semester.
92.
Soda is in no way comparable to water. Water makes you feel so good.
If you disagree or don’t like it, try to go just one measly month with
only water…you’ll never go back.
93. Try to give up one nervous habit (and this also includes NOT picking up another one)
94. Go to class. If you hate getting up early, then be smart about scheduling your classes! (Learned that the hard way)
95. You may not have your BFF, your boyfriend, football games to go to,
or a cheer squad. These things will probably not matter in the real
world. You cannot trade the education you will get a Wesleyan for a boy,
you’ll resent him later. You cannot trade your education at Wesleyan
for a friend; if she wants you to, try re-examining your friendship. Go
to another schools football games and root them on. Or pick a high
school in town to back. You’ll be happier later when you didn’t forfeit
what you wanted for a lame reason, which seemed worth it at the time.
96. Cupcakes solve every problem.
97. I could live off of Chicken nuggets, rice krispies, spaghettios,
instant hamburger helper and fresh milk in the fridge. Popsicles are
nice too, but not if your freezer is crappy.
98. Don’t complain about classes you
have to take. It is obviously a waste of your time.
99. Support your friends. Go to their basketball/soccer games with
posters in hand, go to their art show and make a comment on your
favorite piece, stay up late to help them study. See also # 48.
100. Cherish the time you have. I can hardly believe this first year is
over. Before we know it, we’ll kiss our days of sisterhood goodbye and
head into the “real real world”. Would you rather have spent your days
involved, sober (most of the time), and making the best of everything.
Or complaining, alone, bored, and drugged up/drunk/partying your life
away.
I didn't always follow this one, but I still agree. And now that I'm in big girl world, I miss every college moment.
So there you have it! One post every blue moon. This will be much easier once I have an app or a laptop...just waiting on one of those things to happen! I want to blog! I promise!
