So, as you probably know, I am a college student now and in my first month of being here there are a few things that have come up that I have come to quite enjoy. College is very different from high school, (if you haven't been, its VERY different!) and here are 10 things that I have come to be very happy with here.
LIVING WITH MY BEST FRIENDS!
In my last blog I showed you all my best friends, and I am still having a great time with them! I really do get to live with my best friends! Mary (my room mate) and Lauren (my suite mate) are really amazing friends and are always there for me.
We do just about everything together! One of our favorite activities is to go out to one of the places on campus for grilled cheese! 
At night, Mary and I will just talk and rant about what happened that day or the problems in the world. I am just really lucky to surrounded with so many great people.
BEING CLOSE TO EVERYTHING
Living on campus has another a huge pro, and that is being so close to everything. One of my classes is a five minute walk from my dorm, so I can leave at 10:55 and get their before class starts at 11! (the procrastination is too real)
Another great thing is having all the food on campus within a 10 minute walk, and all you can eat within $7.90, because you can either go to buffet to get all you want, or go to a sandwich shop and get a turkey sandwich, chips and a drink! (you just really need to watch out for the freshman 15, its real, and its coming fast... yikes)
But I just really enjoy being able to walk to everywhere, and get to everything without having to worry about a car.
WALKING ACROSS THE STREET WITHOUT LOOKING
A common thing among college students is the whole "free tuition"phenomenon. The idea that there is no need to look when crossing the street because if someone hits you on campus, the college must pay in full for your tuition. Even though the cars on campus go around 10 mph, it still does give you a rush to run across the street without worrying about cars, because worse comes to worse, you get free tuition!
Although, this is a very bad habit to get into, as I went home this past weekend and forgot to look for cars and my friends had to pull me back to the sidewalk before a car hit me. So I would not suggest getting into this habit, but while on campus it keeps the adrenaline running.
PICKING MY OWN CLASSES AND SCHEDULE
It is super nice to be able to pick my own schedule. I get to be in complete control of what I want to take, what days of the week, what teachers I am taught by, and what times I take that class.
Another great thing about this, is being able to decide whether or not you want morning classes, or night classes, or even classes on Friday. Personally, I try to be in the middle of the day, and not have any Friday classes.
Since only being in my first semester, it is quite weird to only have four days of classes and a three day weekend. I constantly find myself asking people what day it is because I consistently forget on the weekends. Being in complete control is a nice change from high school because you are able to pick classes with a subject that will actually benefit you and possibly be enjoyable.
ALL THE NEW EXPERIENCES
College is a time in your life to try all sorts of new things and meet new people! In high school, I was much more quiet, shy and reserved.
However, that has definitely changed since I have been in college. I find myself going out to meet friends and socializing instead of doing homework all the time, I make room for friends instead of just staying home. This also includes going to all sorts of events! There are so many free events for people in college on campus, such as carnival nights or jazz club dances!
There are even more opportunities to volunteer and make a change in your community. College really has just been a place where I can step out of my shell and do things I never thought I would last year.
NO DRESS CODE
As most people will have experienced, high school has a dress code. Shirts have to have straps at least three finger widths apart, shorts have to be longer than your arms straight to your sides with fingertips flat in length, and so many more rules.
In college, there isn't any of that, at least where I attend. This gives me much more freedom to be comfortable and confident because I truly get to choose what I wear. If I want to wear a tank top, I can. If I want to wear yoga pants or pajamas to class, there will be no one to stop me!
In my last two years of high school they even banned backpacks, so being to carry all of what I need at all times is very comforting, and wearing clothes that will be suitable for the weather is a plus to the college life.
ALL THE WONDERFUL PROFESSORS
Now I don't know if this is the way it is for all colleges, but mine has the best professors it seems. I have had nothing but amazing teachers in this first semester. They are all so supportive, helpful and kind, it really reminds me a lot of my high school.
Each teacher is so enthusiastic about the topic they teach, it is very refreshing to come into that environment after hearing nightmarish stories about college profs. Another great ting about the professors here, is that there is no set of race or culture that you will have teach you, every professor is very different and can have a completely different view on a topic that can really make you think and help you understand the world.
I have a British professor for my children's literature class, and it really is interesting to listen to him talk about the books we read and how a different environment in England can alter a view on a subject.
BEING ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR MYSELF
Before coming to college, I relied very heavily on the support of my family, and listened very closely to their opinions and ideas of how to run my life. While in college, I have found that I benefit most from when I make decisions for myself.
Not having previously done this, I realized how much I was missing out on and how much I needed to grow individually to be competent and fit for society. Making decisions for myself has helped me to grow up and become more of an adult (which is super scary but we can still be kids at the right times). Another big thing in this same sense, is learning how to care for myself. When I am home I am constantly taken care of, people asking if I have had anything to drink, or if I am sick, being catered to;
but college has really made me start to worry for myself and begin to check in on myself to make sure I am doing everything I need to stay alive.
FIGURING OUT WHO I'M SUPPOSED TO BE AND BEING ACCEPTED AS WHO I AM
I have found college to be one of the most accepting and supportive environments around. People are just very inclusive of everyone and don't care about your appearance or whatever happened in your past. If you find the right people, you will genuinely be appreciated and have constant support whenever you need it. It also really helps to find who you are.
College is really a time for self searching, finding what you need to make you happy and who you need around you to make that. I haven't finished this journey and don't expect to for some time, however every step I take is building to make me the person I want to be when I get out of college.
PREPARING FOR MY FUTURE
Now some people go to college to have fun, or party, however I came to college with one key goal in mind; to get an education. I am going to be an early elementary teacher with minors in reading and math. Going in this direction in my life I plan to work a lot around kids which I am more comfortable with. (Parent teacher conferences will be the death of me)
I've always loved being able to hang around kids, and I really want my teaching to be fun for them, and have it be something that they can always remember. I want to make an impact on a child's life, give them the base for their education and prepare them for their lives.
It can be a little nerve wracking at times looking at the whole spectrum and how every decision I make in college can either benefit me or drag me down detrimentally. I know, however, that it will all turn out fine in the end, and someday I can have the job I always dreamed of.
(My second dream, the first was to be a Disney princess in the parks..)
Well, as you can see this is the end of this TOP 10 blog! I hope you enjoyed reading a little more into my life as well as finding a few things that you may not have previously appreciated about college! So, until next time, goodbye!!
