If you recall back to this post I wrote a few months ago, I mentioned that I would be starting university in "very early September". It's now November and nothing's been said, so I thought while I have a spare minute, I should get on that!

As of writing I'm just past the halfway point of my first semester and, so far, the best way I can describe the whole experience, as far as classes themselves go, is, "not that different to highschool". Don't get me wrong, it definitely feels more free, not as "busy", but you have to understand, at the school I'm attending, we don't have those giant 300-person lecture halls, but rather smaller "class sized" classrooms, that, coupled with the sparser class schedule, has definitely given a sense of much-needed familiarity while remaining novel.

Alright, boring class-talk out of the way, now we get into everything else which has been a whiplash-filled roller coaster rolling upon a track of mostly-joyful chaos!

Due to the sheer amount that's happened so far, I'm only really gonna go over my first week. I may write more about it if I find anything that may pique your interests, but we'll see. As of writing this, the first week there was about 2 months ago, and as I didn't write down everything I did like an idiot, this will be mostly from memory, so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt.

Sunday

Yes, my first college experience started on the sabbath, because why not?

The main event this day was something we call the "Crimson Celebration". Basically, they get all the first-year students and crammed them into some bleachers in a basketball court, and within contained a stage with overly dramatic lighting and music and such. If this is starting to sound like those pep-rallies you get in high school, you are are not wrong because that is literally what it was, maybe taken up a notch.

Anyway, the actual event was fine for the most part. There were two emcees leading the event (who were just plainly reading off a script the entire time) that announced quite literally everything, but otherwise they did a good job.

The first speaker was actually the school's president and his wife. He gave the stereotypical "you're all welcome here! you'll do great things! yippee" speech, but otherwise he's definitely down-to-Earth guy. I actually got the opportunity to talk with him before the event started, and he definitely seemed very into his job. So, if you're reading this, hi Mr. Clark!

Anyway, he left and then the choir came out and sang our what I think is an anthem? The actual singing was okay, but the lyrics were definitely something to be desired. The best way to describe it was if Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water was turned into a public domain Youtube music library song and then tried & failed to make it more inspirational.

Then they left, the band came out, then some guy talking about careers, three more dance routines, then they wrapped up. After the event in the parking lot there were complimentary food trucks, because deep down they knew that, if there was no food provided, nobody would come. Welcome to America :D!

Monday

Day 2!

Basically nothing happened this day except a "mandatory" speech-play thing about drug overdoses. They got this doctor who talked to all (AKA 50/2500) of us about how dopamine and oxytocin work to fuel addiction and how narcan is the ultimate first aid for overdoses, etc. Yes, it was important and could save a life, but in my opinion, was not worth the drive.

After he spoke a group of ex-addicts came up and ran a play about overdosing, and then pretended to actually take the drugs too. I'm not sure who approved this, but they did, so.

As we left they gave all of us a bottle of narcan for the next questionably legal party we attend.

Tuesday

Day 3 was when things started cooking. This one's gonna take a while as there was so much that happened, so hang on to your hats!

Part I: Kickoff Fair

The first event this day was the oh-so infamous kickoff fair. It held the most awesome and exhilarating experience of... tables lined up along a long but thin walkway! It was just all the clubs and services lined up to get people interested. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely useful and important, however it was not what I was expecting from a kickoff fair. If anything, that Crimson Celebration and this should have just swapped names.

Speaking of what's useful and important, here is when I met probably the most influential group in my college experience thus far, I'm talking the Catholic Center. I cannot begin to describe how awesome these guys are. I plan on writing more about the center in general at some point, but until then: you're all G's, you'll always be in my prayers.

Oh, and also while I was there I met Paul. He's cool, hi Paul! :D

Alright, hubby-dubby outta the way. Now it's time for...

Part II: Welcome BBQ

There isn't as much to talk about here, but still a couple moments.

I got there a little late as I was finishing up my prayers with the aforementioned G's in the chapel, but as we wrapping up, we just hear this loud techno music just blasting. Now, the chapel we're in was about 500 feet uphill from the main event and we were inside, so that speaker is mighty impressive. Anyway, we left, I bet this one guy who was there with us to walk all the way to the event with a rubber duck on his head and I won with ease, and we got there in a pinch.

Here's where things got chaotic. Keep in mind that this event had only been officially on for about 10 minutes at this. We got there and immediately saw hundreds, and I mean hundreds of people just crowded and packed like sardines in the food line. And then, outside, every table and tent was just filled to the brim, with almost everyone needing to eat on the grass. We had a hunch the school may had underprepared.

Otherwise, everything was chill. They had live music, cheerleading, cornhole, all the things! We just ate then walked around for a while. All-in-all, very good event!

Anyway, before they signed off we stole the mic and recited the Memorare (we didn't really do that).

Wednesday

If you thought Tuesday was busy, well just wait until you hear about Wednesday! Day 4 marked the first day of classes, and just as this week had been overly chaotic as-is, my past self decided to troll me by giving me three whole classes!

First and foremost was Computer Science I, something I am actually interested in! Nothing really exciting happened here, just the usual going over the syllabus and whatnot, normal first-class things.

Next was everyone's favorite; Pre-Calculus. Precalc is one of those classes that sounds easy on the surface, but in reality it just hurts your head for the entire semester. This is how I started out, ignorantly hopeful! Though, there was tincy-tiny thing that got everyone in the class irate, and it fell upon all of us all at once when we were to told that the homework platform was gonna be $60! And we weren't given any prior warning or nothing, just "first homework due Monday, good luck lol". But, except for that minor monetary inconvenience, normal first-class things again.

Lastly was English 101, and honestly? I had this preconceived notion going in that I was gonna hate this class a lot more than I actually am. Atmosphere's chill, professor's engaging, workload is actually manageable, all around good experience so far, no true complaints!

Thursday

Day 5 A.K.A. Day 2 of classes! This day had some good news and some bad news, the good news being I only had two classes! The bad, it started at 9 AM.

After getting reminded of the horrors of high school due to a 6:30 wake up, I was shipped off to my first class of the day: Anthropology. This class has nothing to do with my major, it's what we call a "first year seminar". It's basically just a history class except some of the assignments you gotta keep track of the deadline yourself. The actual class is okay, I like learning about other cultures. For example, did you know that, in order to settle disputes, Eskimos will hold a one-on-one duel in which the opposing parties will punch each other directly in their temples until getting knocked out? Me neither, but now I do!

Moving swiftly on, the next class of the day... wasn't for another four hours, so I just hung in the chapel 'till then. Once it did start... it was just precalc again, so nothing much to say here, moving on.

Friday

The finale has arrived: Day 6. This day I just had but one 50-minute class... that was cancelled. So I basically went to campus for no reason whatsoever. Nothing really happened the rest of the day, so I'll just cut it here.

Epilogue

College so far has definitely been an interesting experience so far. Many ups and many downs, but I think it all balances out. I've met so many cool and interesting people and have done so many cool things, so if you're just graduating high school, I'd recommend it! ...as long as you have the money. ...and know what your majoring in, because it is just not worth it if you don't.