Final Exams? Already?

The time we've all been waiting for is finally here- the end of the semester and that means a long, relaxing Winter Break! Well...almost! I can hardly believe than in less than three weeks, I'll be done with all of my final exams and on my way back home with my family. As cheesy as I'm sure this sounds, it seems like just yesterday, it was Welcome Week and I was wandering aimlessly around campus, desperately trying to find my way from the Hill to the Union (which took about an hour the first time I tried to do it!).

I may be just a freshman, but I've already experienced so much at the University of Michigan. Honestly, college is a whole new world! There were so many things that I thought I knew, but were completely shook up within a few weeks of life in Ann Arbor.

I thought I knew what it was like to cheer on your team, but high school football games are nothing compared to the match-ups in the Big House. The Hot Dog Man, ridiculously complex versions of "the wave," and screaming "Hail to the Victors" until your voice gives out make Football Saturdays the highlight of my week, even if we did lose to Ohio State!

I thought I knew what I wanted to do with my life, but that's definitely out the window! Coming in, I had my heart set on journalism. But even within the first few months of college, I've had a chance to test out my skills and I've found that it wasn't the thing for me. So at least for now, I have to answer the constant "So what's your major?" questions with an "undecided," but there's nothing wrong with that. Everyday at Michigan I find more and more things to spark my interest, and I know (or at least hope!) that I'll be able to find my passion soon!

Finally, I thought I knew people, but you never really know anyone until you share a community bathroom with them! The people in my dorm have become my family, bound together by long dinners in Couzens' cafeteria, late-night hallway "study sessions", and Thursday nights watching "The Office." I can't believe that I was once worried about making friends here- I already love the people I've met in my hall and at my church so much!

The one thing that I really hope I know is how to ace my finals! Of course, there have been a few bumps here and there (i.e., stressful calc exams, but that's another story!) but overall, this semester has gotten off to an amazing start, and I'd love it to finish strong. So my next few weeks, along with everyone else's, are going to be filled with late nights and constant studying. Wish me luck!