This time around...

5 years ago I was a college freshman. A small town girl who was ecstatic to be on a campus with 40 times the population than the town I grew up in. Thrilled to be having the ultimate college experience...the IU dorms, a fun roommate, unlimited party options, and no authority. This week I started my second college experience, a much different one, I might add, which is inevitable considering I'm 23 instead of 18 and a redeemed person, among other things.

With my first week of class under my belt, something that sticks out to me is that this time around I'm so much more sure of myself. I, for the most part, know who I am, what I believe, and where I stand and I'm confident in those things...for the most part. This was not the case 5 years ago.
This time around I don't mind introducing myself to new classmates or asking a question to the professor. This time around I'm more excited to learn and hearing that my class will often be a group discussion format doesn't intimidate me.

This time around I don't feel ugly next to the sorority girls (probably because I'm pretty sure they don't exist at IPFW and even if they did I'd just want to fill them in on the fact that clothes can be bought in stores other than Victoria's Secret) and I don't feel frumpily dressed next to the fashionable east coast girls, in fact from what I've seen I'm way ahead of the fashion trend on this campus (which isn't hard to do in Ft. Wayne).

I'm glad to be where I'm at now...the working 'adult' enrolled in an evening graduate program. But of course there's still the nostalgia that comes along with being back in a college setting. The good memories come flooding back; the sounds, the smells, the variety of people. Walking on campus I can't help but feel like I should be wearing sweats tucked into my Uggs while listening to The Format and smoking a cigarette. But then I would also have to be a good 7 pounds heavier...and so I'll pass. And this time around I can promise you I won't be wearing baggy sweats to class. Maybe yoga pants, but no sweats.


6 comments:

Daveana said...

Sweats ~ Yoga pants aye aye aye! I would ditto what you said about being more confident in yourself this time around! College isn't so big and scary, and I actually talk to some of the girls in my class. Not that it's hard to do with boisterous freshman.

Sara Huber said...

You know, I have really enjoyed being a very small part of college life again, being in a college town. There is something refreshing about the fresh start of a new semester. Glad your first week went well...and yes, please inform those sorority girls to buy their clothes at places other than VS!

leah said...

love it. smiling on my side of the screen!

so glad you had a good first week and can't wait to hear more stories! :)

Betsy said...

Ha! This is great Em! Good reflections.

Laura said...

you make me smile Em!

Marcelle said...

So Em - I'm back in the college scene as well - am mentoring Butler business students in their RBE (Real Business Experience) class. This requires attending their classes which are on MW. Of course I recognize that I'm ancient compared to these kids; however, I'm continually amazed at whole "cleavage thing" that seems to be in vogue!!