columbia: jack's mannequin + SUMMER

my first year of college is now complete. holy shit. i still feel like a little kid, and even though i have a major, i still feel like i have no idea what i'm doing. i feel like those nine months were some kind of weird summer camp or vacation, and i'm getting back to real life now. but in reality it's the exact opposite. that was real life, this is the vacation. i'm just happy it's summer though, no complaints here!

to start my break off right, i of course went to a show. one of the most epic shows of all time in fact. matt nathanson and jack's mannequin! i could ramble on forever, but i'll just cover my bases. packed up the room and my dad took everything home around two, and i went downtown for coffee and decided to go ahead and get in line at around three. doors were at six thirty, so needless to say i made friends with the people around me and we traded concert stories for the next few hours. it's not so scary going to shows alone anymore.

so the show was amazing, but i was exhausted by the end and was very ready to head home. i made it to my car, only to find out it wouldn't start. i almost asked for a jump, but tried it one more time and away she went. so i was planning on just driving straight home without stopping for food or gas, but i was pretty sure i wouldn't make it quite all the way back. so i stopped in kingdom city for gas, and that's where my poor baby died. for good this time. the gas station attendant gave me a jump and let the battery charge for a while, but to no avail. so i called my dad at one in the morning who begrudgingly agreed to buy a new battery and come save me. so we ended up getting home around four or five and i crashed HARD. and have been cleaning and unpacking ever since. it never ends!

of all the classes i've taken, and all the things i've learned from textbooks and lectures this year, that knowledge doesn't even come close to the life skills i've learned. here's a brief list for your reading enjoyment. consider it a sort of "life lessons/advice for future college freshmen".


1. don't assume rooming with your best friend will work out. it's like a slumber party for maybe a week, then it gets real old real fast. you will eventually despise living with each other.

2. during move in week, TALK TO PEOPLE. leave your door open, be friendly, and say hi to everyone. if they ask you come over and watch a movie, do it. if they ask you to join them at dinner, do it. if they inform you of a party, go. i learned the hard way.

3. buy an umbrella. buy rain boots. AND USE THEM. you might think they're retarded since you're a pretentious high school bitch, but you'll appreciate them at college. because if you're getting drenched on your fifteen minute hike to class, everyone will be laughing at you.

4. take advantage of your meal plan. and be sure to use up all your points at the end of the week. i had perpetually free breakfast foods thanks to my leftover points. i even came home with two whole jars of peanut butter!

5. use shower shoes. you don't want to end up like brianna with nasty warts on your feet.

6. offer to drive. chances are you're the only one with a car and people will be more than happy to give you gas money.

7. take advantage of free food. anywhere. everywhere. all the time.

8. set some ground rules about sharing food, when boyfriends/girlfriends can be over, etc.

9. buy some headphones. not everyone likes your shitty country music. not everyone likes your shitty grindcore.

10. a laptop and printer are not absolutely necessary items. there are hundreds or them all over campus. buy a flash drive instead.

11. never do laundry on a sunday night. everyone else does theirs on sunday nights.

12. don't go home every other weekend like i did. you won't make friends.

13. GO TO CLASS. you would be surprised how much money you're wasting even by skipping just one class a week.

14. NEVER TAKE EIGHT AM CLASSES if you can help it. you did it in high school, yes. but something happens that last summer before you leave. it's not physically possible anymore, i promise you.

15. STUDY. when all you have are three tests grades in a semester long class, you can't afford to bomb any of them.

16. there are no places to cry in private. plan accordingly. times when your roommate is in class, bathroom stalls, showers, stairwells, smoking tables, and in bed late at night are your best bets. not that i know from numerous experiences or anything.

17. and most of all, have fun. after all, it is college. take some risks, stay out late, go party and get a little crazy. just be responsible and be safe. there aren't any parents to bail you out of the shit you get yourself in to.