Who Knew

College is a completely different environment than I'm used to. And I've never been around so many diverse people and actually taken notice. Its interesting that one can learn so much from just being around other people. I guess that is what makes humans so interesting.

But not being used to this community and the people, it has taken me a little longer to develop relationships. However, the ones I have made are true and sincere. These women will be my closet friends for the rest of my life. But as I look at the relationships I've formed, I'm shocked to discover who I've made friends with. Not that they are horrible people, or that they smell bad, but because they are not the usual people I'd see myself with.

Granted I can see how I'm friends with athletes and my roommate, but the others, classmates and hall mates, they each bring something new to my "community." Not all of them are athletic, some are artsy and some are hermits. I've learned that if I let my guard down, I open myself up to such wonderful people and experience more aspects of life.

What is so great about Converse, everyone is one the same playing field. You have no previous judgment of other students, nor do they of you. It is a blank canvas to paint a whole new world with new relationships. I've have yet to meet a person I down right don't like. Everyone here is friendly and ready to start new relationships. Either study partners or late-night-I-need-to-vent partner.

I've learned to keep my door open and never shut someone out.

Too Quiet

Studying is not an ideal past time of mine. I prefer to sleep, eat or hang out with friends. However, I need good grades to enjoy my life...or my parents will take the things I like away. So studying has become a "non-negotiable" on my list.

I walked into the Mickel Library and had no clue where anything was except for my classroom on 2nd floor. I only go into the library for IDC class on MWF. I've never wandered around, looked at books or used a computer in there. Finding a place to study wasn't hard because apparently people only need the library near exams. =-)

I sat down with my books and notes and seriously tried to study. But the books on the shelves held my attention....for about a minute before I started daydreaming. My mind was so bored with the quietness and blandness of the environment I couldn't focus on anything important. Every so often I would try to focus on my Spanish or Religion but it just wouldn't click. I reread two lines at least 6 times before I gave up and just sat there.

My ideal study environment has some noise: music, TV, hall mates or roommates talking. I usually do my studying in the PAC because I need 8 hrs of study hall a week. When I'm with other people who are studying and there is noise, I usually do well. I wear my iPod and listen to music. It some how keeps me focused. I need another activity going on in side my mind for studying to be affective. The library had a few noises but so scarcely that they disrupted my train of thought...or lack-of.

The library serves its purpose to others, but you will rarely see me studying there. Sorry.

Oh How the Truth Hurts

Hmm... how do I put this nicely?

I don't think I can. But this assignment really caused me some problems. It created tension on my team and it really made me uncomfortable.

Here's how.

During the soccer game Wednesday night, one of my teammates asked how she was playing, but she meant it to be rhetorical. But I still answered. I told her that she needed to move more and keep control of the ball. I said a few other things along the lines that she wasn't helping on defense and that did not sit well with her.

She turned back and told me things I needed to work on. Touche.

Also, to be completely honest is hard. Sometimes one needs to tell little white lies to preserve someone else's esteem or keep form angering a friend.

But honesty is important on the campus. It provides a trusting environment and you know that people will tell you what they think. You can respect the person more because of the honesty upheld here.

It goes back to the Honor Code. We didn't sign it just to break it. It is there, in the back of our heads, lurking, and constantly reminding us that honesty and integrity are key qualities to posses. It's holding us accountable for everything. We can only point the fingers at ourselves.

Being honest for 24hours was honestly hard and sometimes I didn't want to do it.

It made me wonder though if I can rely on people to be honest back to me.

Not too much

So this year has started off with a little bit more responsibility than I thought. Waking up at 5 am is not as fun as, say sleeping in until 10 am. But with soccer and a full plate of class, I have to manage.
I strolled through the "Involvement Fair" here at Converse just to see what was out there. After thinking about my obligations now, and it is only the first two weeks, I decided I'd hold off on joining organizations. For the same reason as not having a job my first semester, I'm not sure what I'm capable of handling.
Maybe next semester I'll stretch myself a little bit thinner, giving more to the college besides athletics and class. When I see how this year plays out and whether the work load is manageable, I'll think about adding something to my plate.
In Converse 101, Witney gave out a piece of paper, and on the back it had a plate with activities one may be involved in. And about it, it said "Don't add something without taking something off."
I want to get involved with organizations, but as for now, I'm just figuring things out. I'm scared that if I commit myself to too much, I'll get stressed, slack, and overworked,
My commitment to soccer, the athletics and to my grades are all that matter to me at this time.