The end of 2010 has inspired me to write a blog about my first semester of college!
How blessed I am, to be able to persue a higher education! I'm a student at Anderson University, a small Christian/Baptist college in Anderson, South Carolina, studying Music Education. I chose to go to this school over Florida State, which was always my dream college, beacause I honestly didn't think I was strong enough to go to a secular college and not fall into the temptations to party-- I mean, I would never do any kind of drug, I know that for a fact, I think it's trashy, (sorry friends of mine who do weed, but it's very true) but I can't say I wouldn't be tempted to drink. And FSU is a school where parties are how people get together socially...I wanted away from that and closer to God, because I knew I'd fallen away.
But I'm great now! I love my school, my new friends, the music program, and my job!
I'll tell you some things I learned since being at school.
1.) Mail in Always Exciting!
This is my first time ever having my OWN ADDRESS! I check my mailbox everyday, and almost always twice a day (the mail truck comes at different times, lol) I've learned that if you send letters/packages you might receive some in return! I've burned through so many books of stamps-- I love sending letters to my awesome childhood friend from when I lived in Miami. And writing letters is a great way to spend 20 minutes as your quiet time. My mom and stepmom usually are the ones who mail me stuff, and let me tell you, it may sound silly to you right now, but I get so excited when I get stuff as simple as gum, candy, Halloween socks, and kicknacks mailed to me. I usually hum myself a little song while I happily tote a package back to my dorm room, haha, which kinda goes like this:
"La, la, la, got a package!
Whoo-hoo, package!
Tralalalala....package!"
2.) Invest in Earplugs and a Sleeping Mask
Roommates have lots of pros! ....and cons. I have two other roommate, in a small room. Sometimes I get to sleep in while one of my roomies needs to wake up early. If you have a roommate who showers in the morning and runs the blowdryer...you're going to want some earplugs so you can keep sleeping, because sleep is GOLDEN. And if your roomie needs the lights on, keep an eyemask handy. I'm really sensitive to the light when I sleep, so I even went the extra mile and hung up black curtains around my bottom bunk, to keep my little cove nice and dark so I can sleep.
So yeah, an eyemask was definatly in my stocking this Christmas and I was excited :)
3.) Getting Cute Supplies
This Vera Bradley "laptop backpack" was on the top of my Christmas list this year! I definatly over packed to come to school, and brought too many purses. I had a purse for my history and spanish class, then another for music theory, and another just of sheet music...sometimes I would forget I took my pen out of one of the bags and put it in another...or I would misplace books and freak out. I saw this bag and fell in love with how cute it is (Vera Bradley is very popular in Anderson...teehee) and I know that if I have a bigger bag to fit all my books for my classes that day it will help me become better organized.
You NEED A PLANNER in college. Everything is so fast paced that you'll forget stuff for sure if you don't write everything down. Get a planner early-- I spent a week without one (everywhere was sold out!) when I started school and was totally lost until I bought a plain one from my school's bookshop. I personally just got a real cute one from Vera Bradley that goes with my new backpack (another Christmas gift!)
I'm an artsy girl, so having fun things to work with at my desk help me feel less bored while I'm studying or doing homework. I have musical paperclips, fun folders, and a pink desklamp. To me, the cuter the stuff is more likely I am going to study. Or if you're a musician like me, I love to clip my music together with those paperclips, and keep a pretty binder separate for my private lessons.
4.) Remember Where You've BEEN!
Pictures are super important to me. I just got two for Christmas and couldn't be happier. I have pictures all over my walls...it's easy to get lost in a sea of people you barely know in a new place, so coming back to my desk to see the faces of the people I love is soothing. Also, when people come to visit me, they can look at my pictures and see where I've been. I've never felt as accomplished and thrilled than the time I spent my senior year of high school being my marching band's drummajor-- that was the turning point of my whole life! When I decided to go into music, when I proved to people who doubted me I could do it, and when I discovered that through hard work, and a lot of praying, I could be anything I wanted. SO. I have pictures of me conducting up, and when my musical friends come to visit me they go "Oh! You were drummajor??" and I remember my confidence.
Now...don't go too overboard. Make sure you leave room for pictures of new memories you make and don't forget to live in the present.
5.) Christmas Lights!!!
Mkay, the lights in the picture arn't Christmas lights, but same idea. I love my Christmas lights, I have them strung around my bed and over my desk area. It's just something fun to brighten up your life (haha, get it...brighten??? Lame, I know) And I've since discovered...at my school they don't allow extension cords, but DO allow Christmas lights..
Which are like secret extension cords!
Who knew?
I want pink ones now.
6.) It Will Rain
Oh man, another item that was at the top of my short Christmas list was a pair of rainboots. Big time. It rains like crazy in Anderson, and my poor ballet flats have been getting soaked! I've never worn rainboots before college, they are not really a Florida thing, honestly. But once I got to Anderson and spent many mornings with sopping flip flops and jeans, I was watching the girls in their cute rainboots with longing eyes.
I got a cute pair of Capelli rainboots in a fun peacock pattern. I also got a pair of black fleece liners for them, which are awesome! Here is an example in white:
You put them on like socks over jeans or whatever you've got on, and you stick your foot in your boot, and BAM, it's warm! And looks cute when you roll the top of the liner over the top of your boots.
And then, of course, an umbrella.
A small one that will fit in your bag is nice, but you can make friends by having an umbrella that can shelter two ;)
Because a cute boy is bound to have neglected to bring one.
7.) Quality > Quantity
This has always kind of been a personal rule of mine. I've always had a thing for more expensive clothing. It's not like I have a lot, I just would rather get more bang for my buck. I'd rather buy one pair of jeans from American Eagle for $40 (technically less for me, since I get a discount there) than two pairs at Walmart. I'm confident that my jeans from AE will have a longer life and a better fit. I never liked to be cheap when it comes to things I use on my body, whether it's clothing, face cleanser, shampoo and conditioner, or even detergent. And when it comes winter, I was COLD. Being from Florida I had no real winter wear. I figured out the hard way that a cheap jacket from Target didn't provide me the warmth that a North Face jacket would have. You get what you pay for.
And in college you're not going to have much room for tons of clothes. Spend more and buy less-- it sounds like a downer, but at least you'll know you'll probably use whatever you buy for at least a year.
Or do like I did! Get a job at your favorite store and get a discount! I love my 50% discount from American Eagle on the newest collection (once they go on sale the percentage drops, but not by much) and I'm able to buy myself the clothes I need at an advantage.
8.) WATER BOTTLE!
Water is AMAZING! I'm obbsesed with drinking water. Since I got to college and forced myself to carry a water bottle everywhere, I have no desire to drink soda anymore. I have one of those Camelback water bottles in a fun green color with an Anderson decal sticker down the side and I love it. Personally, since I started inhaling water I've found that I wake up more alert, even on less sleep, I don't need to drink as much coffee, it's easier for me to pay attention in class, and it's been easy for me to maintain my weight.
Plus, keeping your own water botter is good for the environment, not to mention you know where it's been (unlike those cups in the caf..)
9.) Your Bed is Vital
Thats my duvet cover! It's from PotteryBarnTeen and it's called "Bold Bloom" and comes in black, pink, or blue. Your bed it where you're going to sleep (duh) or chill, sit with your laptop, or read a book. It was important for me to have a pretty/warm/comfortable place for me to be at night, because while you have to share the rest of your room, your bed is YOURS!
Now, since I knew I was moving to a place that was colder than I was used to, I wanted to be warm, so I went for a duvet cover instead of the usual comforter. This way, it's very simple to wash, warmer with the down inside, and I'm able to change them if I wanted to, without having to store away a bulky comforter (not that I'd want to change it, I love this pattern). I also bought a cute pillow from them:
The one in "Pool" hahaha.
Get a couple sets of sheets so washing isn't as much of a pain. And don't be lazy in changing them-- sleeping in the same sheets gets gross. My roommates and I, SOMEHOW, unknowingly all bought the same color sheets from Target, so it's a good idea to either plan to pick different colors, or have your initials put on them (PotteryBarn gives the initialing as an option when you order them) and that goes for your towels as well.
10.) Don't Dress Like You Did in High School
She should put that sweater on before she goes to Algebra.
Yup, I made this mistake in my first semester for sure. I had an 8:00am and a 9:00am class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I would wake up an hour early to figure out what to wear, do my hair, and put on makeup, then go to breakfast. Kids in college don't put as much effort as in high school. In high school you're in class from morning until afternoon, so you don't want to look like a slop all day long. But college is all about being on the go, which equals comfort. It's all about rolling about of bed, putting something on real quick, throwing your hair in a ponytail, grabbing your books and running out the door. Sleep is important, man, you can't waste valuable sleepy time on doing your eyeliner. Don't be sad-- you can still look decent. Invest in some sweats. I love Victoria's Secret's brand PINK.
I'm big on the sloppy bun with a headband-- it looks cute, and the headband keeps my bangs/short layers out of my face while I'm in class.
Pearls look simple and polished, yet don't clash with a toned-down outfit.
Then in the afternoon you can get dressed for real :)
11.) Use the Library
At first I was kinda iffy on going to the library to study. Then I tried it-- sooo much better than my dorm room, where at least one roomie is either on skype/has a friend over/has music playing (that you can hear even if they're just using headphones) or whatever. At the library it's "SHHH" all the time...perfect. I plan on studying much more in the library. I shall pack my laptop, books, supplies, my favorite hoodie, and a pair of socks if I want to slip my shoes off to get comfortabe to study.
Beware of the Facebook curse, though. Don't keep it up in a tab, get away, get away! Facebook has a way of dragging your attention away.
Hope this was fun to read!
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