beginnings

Hi! This is my first post (obviously) so I’m not really sure how to get started but I’m sure I’ll figure it out. I guess I’ll tell a bit about myself and then I’ll just start talking about my student life!

So I’m a sophomore here and I’m so excited to be starting the new school year. I had a great summer back home in Santa Rosa, California (it’s in the Bay Area, in Sonoma County, about forty minutes to an hour north of San Francisco depending on traffic). I was a camp counselor at the same camp I worked at the summer before, which was so fun and rewarding, and I got to spend all my time with my family and my best friends, which was great. I was a Perspectives orientation leader here so I’ve been back since August 15. We had five days of training followed by ten days of orientation for the first-year students. It was so fun and such an amazing experience. I met so many new people– I have a Perspectives family now! It was so great to help all the freshmen, and all we leaders agreed we really grew from the experience. But it was basically non-stop for two weeks so I haven’t had very much time to talk to my friends at home or hang out with my friends who were already here. Then before I could get a break, school started! And today and tomorrow I had/have tour guide training at 6:45 in the morning, so I’m pretty much doomed to be tired until this weekend. At least everything I’m doing is enjoyable. This semester, I’m taking Spanish Contemporary, Intermediate French, Econ and Theater. I’ve only had one class of each but so far I’m really excited about everything.

Aside from classes, there are a bunch of activities I plan on being involved with. I’m only slightly worried about how I’m going to fit everything in. I managed just fine last year with my many obligations, but I’m putting a little more on my plate this semester so we’ll see how that goes. Right now I’m worrying about RDG (Repertory Dance Group). I’ve done ballet for eleven years and so of course I joined RDG when I got here as a freshman, and now I’m trying to choreograph a dance for this semester! It’s basically done but I have my doubts about it and the choreographer meeting is on Saturday, which kind of scares me.

Right now I’m in my room studying with friends, but I’ve miraculously finished everything already so I can just shower and review a few French conjugations before bed. I live in a quad on the fourth floor. It’s not a whole floor so it’s called the tower, and we have a huge room. I really enjoy being in here and there’s lots of space so people can come over. We have a rocking couch that my roommate Michelle found at an antique store and it’s in this little nook with a TV and near the fridge and microwave. It’s quite comfortable and our friends usually come up in the evenings to study with us.

Well, today is Thursday. I wrote the preceding stuff yesterday. The week is almost over and I’m glad. I’ve basically been sleep-deprived for the last three weeks, thanks to Perspectives and then tour guide training early in the morning two days this week. Labor Day weekend couldn’t come at a more opportune time. We definitely need an extra break after the first week of school. There’s always a lot of class-switching and stuff– yesterday and today I tried to get into a new class and drop another, tried to get into another class and then changed my mind after rather a lot of folderol, added and then (probably) scrapped a second minor and talked to my advisor (who was very helpful, as usual)– and it’s just stressful. But now, having had a productive and successful day, I am in quite a good mood. My french and econ homework only took me like twenty minutes and I don’t have anything else due until next Tuesday. Everything is starting to fall into place, and I’m excited. Next week I’m going to check out an off-campus ballet studio, so I’m really hoping that works out. I miss ballet a lot, as great as RDG is. Applications for the newspaper, The Trail, are due and RDG auditions are that weekend. Also, I’m starting to work out everything for study abroad, which I plan on doing spring semester junior year.

Well, I think I’ll work on some study abroad stuff, or wash my hair. More next week!

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