A week of highs and lows

The first week of school is always an interesting one. With some classes, you know what to expect, either by knowing the teacher and their writing style or hearing from fellow classmates who have already had that class. Others, you have no idea what to expect and are going in blind. This semester, I have a decent mix of the two. I have a lot of research and writing to do this semester on top of my extracurricular activities. Some of this I expected and some I was thrown for a loop. But luckily I am able to take a bit of a break and concentrate just on school and work, instead of also throwing an internship into the mix. I was up for an internship with a great company but unfortunately my class schedule and schedule for the rest of the year didn't go with their needs. So here I am for the first time in a while, only working ONE job and having a full load of classes. We'll see if I get bored at some point. My goal is to get straight A's because I have the time to concentrate on classes.

So the highs with school were reconnecting with friends that I haven't seen since before winter break started and getting excited about some classes I am taking that I've always wanted to take (human sexuality for all you curious people) and the lows were realizing that I am taking some classes that may very well kick my butt (one class requires 8 5-6 page papers along with a group presentation, 2 solo presentations and 2 short presentations; another requires a 20 page research paper at the end of the semester). Also,the stress of an upcoming event that my student organization is planning and hosting is starting to really set in and take its toll. Like I said, it's going to be a long, interesting but fun semester.

On the home front, the highs were welcoming a new roommate that is fantastic already. She decorated our shared bathroom in a way that I have only dreamed of doing. I know that's a funny thing to point out but for me it's a big deal. I do miss my old roommate but life happens and people move around. So yay for a new roommate who seems like she is going to be fun! The lows of the week is realizing that this is the worse off I have been financially...ever. When I first started working, it was for pocket money and to have something to do after school and to learn about responsibility and get a little better at my work ethic. And I truly liked working because it was something new and I was doing something I had never done before.

Now it is to support myself because I have bills to pay and things to buy (necessities and once in a great while now something fun). I am a waitress and like most restaurants this past year, mine is still recovering and I am not working nearly enough or good enough shifts to get a good amount of money. It's really kind of scary. But I am, and always have been, pretty independent and believe that I can do it on my own...with a little help now and then. I have my parents to thank for that mindset and for the help now and then.

I said in a previous post that this was going to be a great year and I still believe that. However, it is going to be great in a different way than I originally thought. I am going to grown and learn a ton this year. And I am really looking forward to it.