Blogging from a UT perspective

So, I went to a blogger info. session at UT today, and it was very informative and pretty awesome. It feels GREAT to get back into the swing of things on the lines of blogging (I can't believe my last post was so many months ago o_O). So here I am at PCL thinking about my first semester of college and realizing that everything in life, even something as amazing as college, has it's ups and downs.

I don't think high school students fully realize the change that will occur when they go to a university. College, is nothing like high school. The atmosphere is different, expectations are higher, classes are informal, and in actual reality you're pretty much on your own for the first couple weeks of college. It's pretty awkward the first time you call one of your new college friends to get together for lunch because it's at that 'in-between' stages where y'all are kind of friends, but not really. Change in college is a huge factor, and it's not easy.

That's why I'm so looking forward to going to Alumni Day in January. It'll be great to see all my old teachers and my junior (now senior) friends again. I want to be able to share to all my senior buddies that it's nothing like you expect. I graduated second in class and yet I'm making a C and three B's, that's NOTHING like what I anticipated. You think it's gonna be easy, and that you're going to have a jolly good time but once you start getting those test grades back, it's like a slap in the face. The most important lesson you will learn your first semester in college is how to manage your time. This is an essential skill that I urge all my fellow high schoolers to master now, instead of having to weasel your way toward a B the last couple weeks of the semester.

Also, your social life changes too. I had about twenty to thirty other Akins graduates come with me to UT, but DAYS go by when I don't see a single one. It's a definite relief when you can see a familiar person in a "Sea of Faces". Unless you're dorming with a friend, your interests really do expand in the social world. As a last note, a fair warning to those who want to jump into all the exciting student organizations. Please, please, please know your limits. Your first semester is NOT the time to experiment with a 12-15 hour class load and 2-3 organizations. At most, have one organization that you are committed to and a level amount of class hours that you personally feel as if you can handle. You'll quickly learn how to balance work and play in the college scene, and if you don't, then it's "Si-Ya-Nara" (i think that means goodbye... right?)

Anywhoo: it's goodbye for now... I have to do an assignment for my Psychology class (which I HIGHLY recommend... take Profs. Gosling & Pennebaker)... hopefully this post will be the first in a line of more consistent ones. Take Care Readers!

Many Hugs:
Joanna.

Artist: Kutless
Song: Sea of Faces