Home for the holiday's!

I am incredibly happy to be home, especially since we were lucky to get here! Some snow storms started rolling in only hours behind us and if we had waited another day to leave we probably wouldn't have made it back. Anyways, it is so weird to be done with my first semester of college! It seems like only yesterday I was applying to various schools, going to my senior prom, graduating and spending an amazing summer with friends and family. I'm not really sure where time went!

All in all I think my first semester was a success. As far as I know I got all A's and one B (in math). The workload wasn't as bad as I expected and the whole transition wasn't as weird as I thought it would be. There are alot of things I learned the last couple of months that I would like to share.

First of all, you can't be too self conscious. The most important thing you can do at college is be outgoing. You are surrounded by awesome people, you just need to talk to them. The few friends I have made are people who I went out of my comfort zone a little to talk to. Looking back, I realize that I probably missed out on some possibly good friendships just because I didn't speak up. It can be hard to branch out a little and make yourself vulnerable in some ways, but you really won't be happy if you don't. Talk to people and get involved!

With that being said, you also need to let friendships happen naturally. There were a few people who I felt like I really need to try with, it wasn't completely comfortable and normal. Don't do that! If you don't completely click than move on. When I stop and think about it I realize that I have had to make all new friends. First grade I already knew a few kids from various childhood activities, all through elementry school I was surrounded by the same people, going into middle school I changed schools but had a few people I hung out with until I transitioned into a group that fit me better and going into high school I had a pretty good group of friends already, it just expanded. College is a totally different experiance though...In alot of cases your thrown into a completely new situation. And in my case, a situation where a lot of people's transition to college was alot like that from middle to high school...With friendships already made. It just takes time, you gotta just let it happen!

Something that caught me off guard about college was how much free time I had. I expected to be constantly busy and there were weeks when I was, but there were also weeks when I had absolutely nothing to do! You really want to get involved in campus life so you don't end up sitting around in your dorm all the time.

I also learned that although people are always warning you about the "freshman 15" and complaining about how lazy and unfit college students are...The campus dining pretty much sets you up for failure. Sure, there are people who over-indulge, but basically anything you get on campus is awful for you. I looked up the nutrition info for my school's food and even the "good" stuff isn't all that good for you. If you want to stay health in college you really have to try. Going to the gym is a life saver.

You know what, I'm really sleepy. I think that is all for tonight! :)