Time flies when you're having fun!
It’s December – can you believe it? With the end of first semester of my sophomore year approaching, I’ve realized that this semester wasn’t all that different from first semester freshman year. Sure, I knew a lot more at the beginning of this semester. This semester, I was not scared of the big lectures, I didn’t whip out my map every two steps, and I didn’t arrive ten minutes early to every class. No, this semester I positioned myself comfortably in the middle row, middle seat of the lecture hall, I knew where the buildings were and what shortcuts to take, and I arrived ten minutes after the hour. But this semester as a whole had few differences.
Some similarities? Well, for one, Football Saturdays (regardless of our less impressive record) were still the highlight of my weekends. The stadium was always packed, students were dressed in their best Maize & Blue, and cow bells rang while beach balls floated around the stadium. There was no lack of spirit from this year to last. I still felt the same rush of pride and enthusiasm every time the marching band played the Victors and the stadium erupted in song and cheer.
Another similarity? I still needed just as much advising this semester as I did last year. I believe my slew of advisors will be sick of me by the time I graduate! I will always need my LSA advisor to help me fulfill the core requirements. The new advisors I saw this year were my concentration advisors, who helped me in deciding what classes for my major would be appropriate to take now.
More similarities? While I am not in the residence halls this year, I still have Grey’s anatomy night on Thursdays. I still procrastinate with my friends, who are now my roommates. I still celebrate birthdays at Mongolian Barbeque (if not for the free dessert, but for the amazing food). I still pull all-nighters when big exams or papers are due, surviving off of espresso and Red Bull. I’m still constantly meeting new people and making new friends. And I still have to wear eight layers of clothes, with my long “cocoon” coat on top, on my way to class, before peeling most of it off once I enter the well-heated buildings.
Key differences? Now that I live in an apartment, I have a fully equipped kitchen at my disposal. I’ve channeled my inner Emeril Lagasse and Martha Stewart, cooking dinner (I’m proud to announce that I was nominated Top Chef of the apartment) and baking lots of goodies for my apartment every once in awhile. We have room now for a Christmas tree, which we put up promptly after returning from Thanksgiving. And this year I have no ladder or loft, my bed is placed firmly on the ground.
As I look back on this past semester, I can’t believe half of my sophomore year is coming to an end. I’m sad to be leaving my friends and Ann Arbor in a couple weeks. I’m sad to end the classes that I liked so much this semester. But I’m anticipating the winter vacation, free of stress and work. I’m excited to be reunited with my friends from home. I’m excited for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and the Capital One Bowl. And I’m excited for winter semester, the new books, the new classes, and the new year. GO BLUE!
Some similarities? Well, for one, Football Saturdays (regardless of our less impressive record) were still the highlight of my weekends. The stadium was always packed, students were dressed in their best Maize & Blue, and cow bells rang while beach balls floated around the stadium. There was no lack of spirit from this year to last. I still felt the same rush of pride and enthusiasm every time the marching band played the Victors and the stadium erupted in song and cheer.
Another similarity? I still needed just as much advising this semester as I did last year. I believe my slew of advisors will be sick of me by the time I graduate! I will always need my LSA advisor to help me fulfill the core requirements. The new advisors I saw this year were my concentration advisors, who helped me in deciding what classes for my major would be appropriate to take now.
More similarities? While I am not in the residence halls this year, I still have Grey’s anatomy night on Thursdays. I still procrastinate with my friends, who are now my roommates. I still celebrate birthdays at Mongolian Barbeque (if not for the free dessert, but for the amazing food). I still pull all-nighters when big exams or papers are due, surviving off of espresso and Red Bull. I’m still constantly meeting new people and making new friends. And I still have to wear eight layers of clothes, with my long “cocoon” coat on top, on my way to class, before peeling most of it off once I enter the well-heated buildings.
Key differences? Now that I live in an apartment, I have a fully equipped kitchen at my disposal. I’ve channeled my inner Emeril Lagasse and Martha Stewart, cooking dinner (I’m proud to announce that I was nominated Top Chef of the apartment) and baking lots of goodies for my apartment every once in awhile. We have room now for a Christmas tree, which we put up promptly after returning from Thanksgiving. And this year I have no ladder or loft, my bed is placed firmly on the ground.
As I look back on this past semester, I can’t believe half of my sophomore year is coming to an end. I’m sad to be leaving my friends and Ann Arbor in a couple weeks. I’m sad to end the classes that I liked so much this semester. But I’m anticipating the winter vacation, free of stress and work. I’m excited to be reunited with my friends from home. I’m excited for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and the Capital One Bowl. And I’m excited for winter semester, the new books, the new classes, and the new year. GO BLUE!
