Alternatively titled, College, Oh My!
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I'm currently typing from my temporary dorm room after a long, long, long long lONG LOOOOOONG day of orientation (and guess what?! there's more tomorrow hahaha), during which I played silly games, got to meet the head of the fine arts department, actually got introduced to the vice chancellor (my folks got to talk a lot with her), pre-registered for classes, and got absolutely turned around on campus. It's a small school, just 3500 students, but it just feels that way because I'm coming from a high school one-third the size.
There are so many things about my school that I love, that I didn't even know about before I chose to come here. They care so much about the students here, and their number one focus is on taking care of their undergraduate students. Not to say they hold your hand here, because they don't, but their concern for the safety and well-being of their students is unparalleled. In the outdoor area between most of the main buildings, commonly called the quad, there are black bins that hold water and soda for students that are dehydrated. They have nursing staff available for visits when you're not feeling well, and they can even prescribe medication (you do have to go off campus to get prescriptions filled, but still) and it's NO CHARGE to go see the nurses when you're sick. (The meds you obviously have to pay for, but still.)
They also have a police department right on campus, and these special blue-lighted consoles around campus with buttons to press for PD assistance. They actually are EXPECTING students to call for a police escort when they're on campus alone, and they will take you where you need to go, no questions asked. They even recommend to always travel in pairs or small groups for safety reasons.
My parents told me about so much more, but I can't remember it all; I have a massive headache from all the information they crammed into my tired mind. (Last night, I had to sleep in a hotel room with my parents, who WOULDN'T FREAKING GO TO SLEEP when I wanted to, and they snore, so I got around 6 hours of sleep in two-hour chunks.) What I do remember is sitting in the cafeteria and telling my parents that the beautiful people and services at my school make me want to weep for joy. Absolutely weep. Like a baby.
Well, I know what I WILL do like a baby tonight: sleep. God, I'm tired. And I have to get up early tomorrow to go to breakfast, check out of my room, and head over to the fine arts building for more sessions with the student leaders and whatnot.
I'm really looking forward to getting my class schedule set up tomorrow; when I did the pre-registration, the girl helping me told me I have an awesome potential schedule, which makes me feel really good.
My roommate just walked in, so I'm going to go. Update again soon!
