Friday, January 31, 2014

Why Didn't You Tell Me This Earlier?

     I suppose this title is self explanatory, as it should be. Now I am slowly approaching the end of my sophomore year and I feel like I have college life pretty figured out (sometimes). Even though many people tried to give me tips and tricks to having a successful college career, I was always the one to just shrug it all off. Looking back, I wish I took all of their advice sooner. So, seeing as it is almost time for the class of 2018 to make their final decisions on where they will spend the next 4 years of their lives, I figured I would let you in on all the things I wish I had known before college. 

1. Making real friends takes a good amount of time. In your first week you will find someone who you automatically click with. They will become your instant BFF. All the normal things will occur, like you calling your mom to say that you have found your absolute best friend. Beginning of second semester you awkwardly pass them on the way to class and think to yourself, "why were we even friends to begin with?" BEEN THERE. DONE THAT. This happens ALL THE TIME. It is basically impossible to become best friends with someone in a matter of hours. Finding people that will always be there for you may even take over a year. I am so blessed that I have been able to find a group of friends that are always there for me. Sure, we have had our ups and downs, but they will always have my back. 

2. It's hard being away from home. If you would have told me this back when I was filling out my college applications, I would probably have laughed in your face. As much as I love my hometown, I was so desperate to get out. While I don't regret my decision to come to SMC one bit, at times it is hard to be away from home. I don't want to go home every weekend to do my laundry, but it would be nice to go home to see my dog occasionally or be there for my best friend's birthday without a 5 hour drive each way. I love SMC more than words can describe, it has become my home and I am so thankful for that. I am also so thankful for technology because it makes being away so much easier. 

3. Classes can (and will) be challenging. Who ever said getting into college was the hard part, boy were they wrong. My first couple of semesters showed that. The purpose of being in a place of "higher learning" is to be challenged and to think in ways that you never have before. Its not supposed to be a repeat of high school, and if it is, then you may be in the wrong place. All of the information you are learning is advanced information so it is expected that you produce high-quality work. Be prepared to spend hours studying for one thing. The thing that I am grateful about here at SMC is while my classes are challenging, they are classes that I am extremely passionate about. My first couple of semesters, I was in a major that I chose just for the heck of it. I wasn't until last semester that I found a subject that I am truly passionate about. While at times spending hours in Bergeron seems daunting, I wouldn't change it for the world. 

4. Go to Office Hours. Everyone told me this. I even tell people this every Monday when I give tours (come take a tour with me!) Practically everyone that I met told me this little tidbit of information but I always just brushed them off. I tend to be fairly shy unless I know you really well. I had it in my head that I was not going to go to office hours. BIG MISTAKE. I didn't go to my professor's office hours until after Thanksgiving. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING SUSANNA?! Professors can be intimidating, you can't find their office, you don't have time. Before you know it, the excuses just start building up and it is the end of the semester and your grade isn't all that hot. Go to their office hours a couple of days a week where you can just talk about life. Let them get to know you outside of the classroom. I love talking with professors here at SMC. While I was nervous at first, it totally helps. Before you know it you will be eating lunch with your professor or talking about the latest episode of Scandal.

(P.S.- I wish I took everyone's advice. I didn't and my GPA would be much higher if I did.)

5. Everyone changes their major. Ok maybe not everyone, but a lot of people do. I know that you have loved the business world since second grade and that you always wanted to be the next Donald Trump or Oprah Winfrey. But then you start struggling in your classes needed for a business major and begin to question everything. And this my friends is why Liberal Arts schools like ours exists. They help you figure out where you fit the best. Go from education to business to media studies. Take classes outside of your comfort zone and test your boundaries. This could help you realize a new passion. Changing your major, even multiple times like me, is completely normal.

6. Don't judge a person by their Facebook profile. Being a media studies major, this is one lesson that I have learned about social media. In May, I was added to the Class of 2016 Facebook page and instantly went into creeper mode. Ask my friends, I am seriously the best Facebook creeper ever. In the midst of doing that, I made assumptions about people that were completely false and inhibited me from getting to know the real them. Some people that I thought were totally weird are actually some of the nicest people I know. I guess that the 2014 way of saying don't judge a book by its cover would be to say "don't judge a person by their Facebook profile."

7. You will make mistakes. You will fail at things. You may fall down the stairs. You may set the fire alarm off in your room because you burnt popcorn. But then you will achieve at things. You will get up after you fall. You will learn the exact time it takes to pop a perfect bag of popcorn. Mistakes are how you learn. Maybe brushing off studying before your macroeconomics final wasn't the best idea. Or eating an entire pint of Ben & Jerry's Americone Dream in one sitting (even though it was delicious). You try and try again until you can finally get it right. In college you don't only learn things about biology, philosophy, journalism or all the other subject areas. You also learn things about life. 

This blog post might have been a little heavy, but it is super important. To make things a little lighter, I will leave you with a wicked pretty picture of SMC, because it is the most beautiful and magical place on earth!

Questions? Comments? Just wanna say hey?
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Friday, January 17, 2014

Back at School!

AHHHHH. I'm back at SMC and couldn't be happier. It truly is home to me. My first week back has been amazing. Classes started up on Monday and I am in love with my schedule this semester. Here at SMC, you take 4 classes a semester. The beauty of it all is that you basically have total freedom with your schedule. Say you are not a morning person. You have the option to take all of your classes starting after 11:00am. Or if you want to get all of them early, you can do that as well. 
     I am sort of a morning person. I say sort of because while I complain about having to get up early for classes, it really isn't that bad once I realize that I have the rest of my day to do whatever I want to do. As I mentioned early, my schedule this semester is pretty sweet.
     Monday and Wednesday I only have one class from 8AM- 9:35AM. So essentially, I am finished with my classes for the day before some people even start. I think it is pretty cool. That class is called Deviance, Norms and Social Control. It is a sociology class and I find it really interesting. Now the major question I get is "what do I do with the rest of my day?" Well, I have rugby practice in the morning of both Monday and Wednesday from 6:15-7:45. After that I go to class. On Monday after class, I will rush to Alliot to get a quick breakfast then run to my room to grab a quick shower. I then will race over to Hoehl to give my weekly tour at 10:30. (schedule a tour HERE). After my tour, I will probably get some homework done, maybe take a nap and do what ever else I want to do. Its pretty nice. 
     Tuesday and Thursday are my busy days. I have class from 8:00-9:35. That class is Communication for Social Good and so far I am really enjoying it. After that I have an hour and a half break to finish homework and get some food before my back to back classes in the afternoon. At 11:30, I have my Reporting for Media class and right after that I have my Race, Gender and Ethnicity in Media class. My race, gender and ethnicity class is by far my favorite. I really enjoy it.
     So far, the semester has been great, even though it is only the first week. I will update you on it more later!

Ta ta for now!
Susanna

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Friday, January 3, 2014

Snowed In.



Hello all. Yes, it has been 5 weeks since I last blogged, and I totally apologize for that. Between finals and being home, it was a little difficult. To make matters a little worse, the Internet has been really bad at my house so this is the first time during break that I have actually used my computer. 
     To tell you the truth, I miss school more than words can allow me to describe. At school, it is easy to connect with friends. All you have to do is text them, meet them in Alliot or simply walk to their room. At home, it proves a little more complicated than all of those allow. I mean, you actually have to drive somewhere and gas is fairly expensive down here. But other than that, break has been fantastic. It hasn't been too crazy, but I can fill you in on a few of my high points. 
Such a fantastic concert!

     1. I was done really early with finals this year. It was the first time that I did not have to wait until the last day to come home. To make things even better, the Monday after I got home (the 16th) my mom and I had tickets to go see John Mayer. Let me tell you, it was fantastic. I have been a fan of John Mayer since I was in first grade. Crazy I know. The concert was great and it was lovely to spend sometime with my mom. 

     2. Christmas!! For all of you that know me, you are very aware that Christmas is my all time favorite holiday. I just love everything about it: the food, the family, the cold weather, the presents. EVERYTHING. I just love Christmas. We always do the same thing for Christmas and this year as no different. It was great to see my family and spend time with them. Two days ago we had Christmas with my dad's side of the family. (Christmas Eve and day are spent with my mom's side and New Year's Day is spent with my dad's.) It was great to see all of them and I finally got to meet my aunt and uncle's new dog, Jackson. He was so adorable. 
Jackson!


   3. New Year's Eve. Normally, I don't do anything for New Year's Eve. This year I went to one of my best friend's house and we just hung out. It was me and 3 of my best friends and it was fantastic to see them all again and catch up. We just talked and ate and watched the ball drop and I couldn't have had more fun. Sometimes it is hard to go to school so far away because I don't get to see them all of the time. But it is always good when I come back because I get to hear a ton of stories. 
(l to r: Kelsey, Kate, Me)

     4. SNOW! So it snowed last night- a lot. There is about 7ish inches of snow on the ground. I love snow. I think it is one of the prettiest things there is. My dog, Zoey, is not that fond of it. She would not leave the porch when I let her out. 


     In a little over a week, I will be back at school and I couldn't be more excited. I am so excited to see everyone again and to start all of my new classes. 

That's all for now!
Susanna

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