I Love Christmas!

I love baking and eating, wrapping presents and giving them, Christmas movies and carols. I love the Christmas season, so much. Today was my first full day home this Christmas and it was full of baking gingerbread cookies! It was amazing. I love decorating cookies and listening to Christmas music. I think my new favorite Christmas cd is the Glee holiday album. I've been listening to it nonstop since it came out. Then again, I listen too all my Glee cds on repeat... don't judge. :)

I'm just super excited to see all my family this break! Most of my cousins are coming up to visit and I even get to go to Arizona on the 29th!

I think that's the best part about Christmas. Being close with all my family. :) I have some of the best cousins I could ever ask for. I'm sure tons of pictures and videos will ensue as soon as they all get here. I've been counting down the days! My oldest cousin and his girlfriend arrive on the 23rd. They are the cutest couple I've ever seen, no lie!

So much love is in the air. I just want to talk a walk outside in the beautiful snow and enjoy this break from school. No homework, no tests and no papers. Just freedom and joy. I'm going to enjoy every single moment! How are you spending your Christmas break?

Coffee is My Best Friend

This morning, I took my first final as a college student. It wasn't as bad as I was anticipating. But I can't believe this semester has gone by so quickly! It seems like just yesterday I was starting my first day of class, scared out of my mind. Scared because I didn't know anyone in my class, but mostly scared because my first class was Spanish, which was highly intimidating. Tomorrow I take my Spanish final. And then I will feel accomplished. Honestly, passing Spanish will be my biggest accomplishment. Something I'll be super proud of.

I've learned so much this semester, both in and out of the classroom. I love it here. I love college, I love Concordia. I don't even mind that I'm super tired and I'm basically on a coffee IV drip. I'm enjoying life. :) Next semester, here I come!

Oh, also, I found this interesting website: Death by Caffeine. It basically says how much of certain caffeinated drinks will kill you, if they're all in your system at once. Super entertaining :) I found out it would take 235 cans of Cherry Coke to kill me. Crazy!

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

Finals are creeping closer. And as the semester comes to a close, I'm finding myself getting more and more distracted by life around me. From things as stupid as Like a Little to things as important as my guitar, I'm discovering it difficult to get things done. I do what I can, but I'm starting to end up getting way less sleep than I would like in order to get things done.

My favorite go-to website for when I'm procrastinating is ImgFave. It's just a website with awesome pictures from all over cyber space that range from inspirational to funny. It's full of celebrities, food and, my favorite, adorable little kids and babies. I always get a little pick-me-up from looking at Img Fave. Here is my most favorite one that I found today:



 Hope this made your day just  a little bit better! :)

What Not to Eat

I don’t think I can go more than 3 hours without some sort of processed sugar. Most of my friends know this about me. All my life, I’ve been blessed with my father’s metabolism that allows me to eat a whole pizza in one sitting and not gain any weight. For the most part, I was good about what I ate. I had sugar everyday, but I tried not to have too much of it, and I was pretty good at portion control for the rest of my food.

 

Then, something both marvelous  and monstrous happened to me: Dining Services. The food is good and plentiful and my metabolism has been having quite a duty trying to keep up with my. My side-kick, Emma, and I are known for our food shenanigans. We frequent Taco Bell like it’s our job and just a few days ago, we bought a whole pumpkin pie and devoured the entire thing in less than 48 hours.

Last night seemed to be the last straw for the both of us. For desert, we made a waffle and piled it with ice cream, whipped topping, chocolate sauce and whopper bites. It was disgustingly delicious, but it got me thinking a lot about those extra pounds that have been creeping up on me since schools started. Then and there, we both decided that it was time to stop being lazy and actually work out, so we started a 9-minute abs program. 9 different abdominal workouts for 1 minute each, with push-ups in between each minute.

I felt pretty good when I woke up this morning, but as the day as progressed, I’ve started to feel the effects. A simple laugh and I feel the burn from last night’s workout. Not going to lie, I love that feeling. Makes me feel like I actually did something productive for my body.

I think the hardest part will be sticking to it, but that’s why we’re doing it together.

Fill the Dome

By far, my favorite volunteer opportunity every year is Fill the Dome. Fill the Dome is entirely youth led and the idea is pretty simple: fill the floor of the Fargo Dome with food donations to feed the hungry and homeless. For the past 4 years, youth around the the Fargo-Moorhead area have come together to do something spectacular. Collectively, we've raised over 300 tons of food and over $225,000 to support the food pantries in our community. It's so amazing what the youth in this area can do to really make a difference. I'm proud to be a part of Fill the Dome. It's something really special that makes a huge difference to many different people. It's how I use what Concordia has taught me about BREWing. :)

Harry Potter: More than Just a Fad

I’m still a bit tired from the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows premier but it was so incredibly worth it. My crew and I got to the theatre around 8:00 and it was both miserable and exciting. The wind was howling, the sun was set and the cold air was finding any way it could to break through my multiple layers of clothing.

Non-Harry Potter fans don’t understand. They scoff, say Mr. Potter is overrated and some even claim that Twilight is better.  But us hardcore fans know different. A lot of us (myself included) grew up with the characters and the cast. I still remember turning 11 and waiting for my letter to Hogwarts. It never came and I think a part of me is still waiting.

But okay, fine, we grew up with the series. A lot of us also grew up with NSYNC, overalls, fanny packs and Digimon and it’s probably pretty difficult to find people who still go all fan-girl over those things. That’s because Harry Potter is about more than something we know and something we’ve grown accustomed to. The truth is, it’s a little hard to explain to people who haven’t read the books and gotten sucked in, but I’ll do my best.

In a nutshell, JK Rowling (the author of Harry Potter) champions the unlikely heroes. The nerds, geeks, outcasts and losers are the real heroes of the story. Rowling also illustrates that love is more important and more powerful than hate. One of my favorite lines from the books comes from Albus Dumbledore: “Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.” The other common themes in the series are friendship, bravery, unity. All working together to fight a common evil. It’s uplifting as well as inspiring. Best of all, they’re well written and entertaining!

I feel like I could write pages and pages about Harry Potter and why I love it so much, but I won’t. I think I’ve already shown a little too much of my nerdy side . So I encourage everyone who hasn’t already to give the books a try! The first 3 are actually pretty short, so if you read them and don’t like them, you haven’t really lost much! Talk to me if you want to borrow a book or two. Or all of them.

Go here: http://cobblog.cord.edu/?p=4220 to check out the video I made and read about some other Concordia bloggers!

Let it Snow

As I was walking to my 1:20 class this afternoon, shivering slightly but still refusing to drag out my over-sized coat, I noticed some flakes begin to fall from the sky. My first reaction was, “No! It can’t snow before the premier of Harry Potter 7! I have to stand outside for hours!” Then I remembered: I’m from Minnesota. I know exactly how to deal with the cold! So for everyone who doesn’t come from Minnesota, or finds the excessive winds in Moorhead to be quite a shock, here’s a list of what I think is most important when trying to keep warm.

1. Layers.

-20 degrees outside, 70 degrees inside. It’s difficult trying to dress for such a huge difference in temperature, which is why layers are the best.

2. Hat/Gloves

There have been a couple really cold days this fall already, and I’ve gotten by with just a sweatshirt, mittens and a hat, because as long as my head and hands are warm, I’m generally pretty comfortable.

3. Hot Chocolate
Nothing like a hot beverage to keep a person warm!

4. Hand Warmers

Generally, I get these awesome things at Scheels or Walmart, but I think they can pretty much be found anywhere during the winter. They’re small little packs of heat that work for about 8-10 hours and I find that they can really help a lot. I like to stick them in my gloves, shoes and pockets.

5. Boots

I’m guessing most people from around here have some sort of boots. Whether it’s rain boots, legit snow boots or some form of Ugg-like boots, and there’s a reason for that! Having cold feet is miserable. Truly. If you don’t have boots or really thick, warm shoes, I recommend getting some before it gets too cold out!

I’m not a huge fan of snow and cold. I don’t mind it too much, but I’d always rather be too warm than too cold. I plan on implementing all of the above tips at the Harry Potter premier tomorrow, so let it snow, Minnesota. I’m ready!

Values

Today in my Inquiry class, we were learning about values. Values, in a nutshell, are ways of thinking and beliefs that drive our actions. This can be both good and bad. I never really thought about how sticking to values could be a bad thing, but then Dr. Covey opened my eyes. The German SS (Schutzstaffel) was a huge example of values gone bad. During the Nazi reign, the SS officers had two values that they stuck to: honor and loyalty. Seems pretty noble. Their motto was “my honor is my loyalty” and that’s partially what led to the extermination of so man Jews during WWII. They were loyal to Hitler and so morally, they thought they were doing what was right. That blows my mind.

During class, we were asked to think about our own values. After some thought, I came up with 3 that really guide my actions all the time. Compassion, inquiry and faith. As I mentioned in an earlier post compassion is very important to me and it generally drives my actions. Inquiry is basically the whole reason I’m in college. I love to learn. I’m always curious and questioning and I think that’s good. The world is so mysterious, one could never know everything there is to know, but I think it’s worth it to try. As for faith, I think it’s substantial. Not just religious faith, but a general faith in humanity. A faith that in the end, everything will turn out okay. This value not only drives my actions, but it also contributes to my mental health.

Values are meaningful and influential, when used correctly. What are your values?

Why I Voted

Today is Election Day in the United States of America, and I’m extremely jacked about it. Being part of the Campus Democrats means I’ve been involved in Get-Out-the-Vote activities since the start of school, and it’s fun to see the results. Throughout my adventures with the Campus Dems, I’ve encountered a lot of people who said they weren’t going to vote so I thought I would compile a list of all the reasons I voted today.

1. It’s my civic responsibility
Yes, voting is a right, but it’s also a responsibility. As American citizens, we are in charge of making sure politics and legislation go the way we want it to. But how are we supposed to make that happen without voting? The ability to vote is, in my opinion, the most important constitutional right, and I am proud wear my “I Voted” sticker.

2. Things won’t change without my voice.
I think a lot can be changed in America. Literacy rates, school quality, gay rights, energy efficiency and the economy are just a few of the things that I believe can and should be changed. The politicians in office aren’t going to know if I feel that way unless I speak out and vote. We were given the right to vote so we can make sure the government is doing what we want!

3. I want to help Moorhead Schools.
On the Moorhead ballot this year, there’s an option to vote yes or no fora tax levy that would go to help out the schools. I’m glad to have been able to vote yes!

4. The “I Voted” sticker
I mean come on, who doesn’t want that sweet red sticker to show off to the world?

B.R.E.A.K.

It’s Mid-Sem and campus is barren. Dining Services is shut down, the Library is locked up and there are a total of 3 people on my floor, including my RA. Mid-Sem has the ability to be very, very boring, for those of us staying on campus, so my friends and I made sure to rock break like it’s never been rocked before. 

Step One: Build a giant fort. My roommate went home for the weekend, so my friend, Emma, and I took the opportunity to turn my empty room into a party. It covers my entire room, except for a couple feet right inside the door. Taking a picture of it was actually a little difficult because of the vastness of it, but I did what I could. It took a lot of blankets and some duct tape, but it was totally worth it. Now my empty room is a lot more inviting and we have a cool club house to hang out in.   

Step Two: Be lazy. The best part of break is not having school and not having classes means a chance to be super lazy. Nothing but sweatpants and shorts and lots of movies and junk food. Since DS is closed, and I have no desire to cook anything more difficult than pizza, I’ve had a lot of ramen, easy mac and raw cookie dough. Pop Tarts and nachos are also common favorites. 

Step Three: Take the time to do things never done before! I’ve been learning how to long board which is both super fun and hard. Since no one is on campus, the sidewalks are completely empty which is prime time to take a long board around. I’ve been having so much fun with the board I borrowed from my RA, I actually just purchased my very own. It’s scheduled to come on Thursday! My friends and I also went to the mall to look at Forever 21 (which just opened!) and to pet all the adorable puppies. We found an adorable one and named it Bruce Wayne and almost took it back with us. But I guess the college has rules about having dogs in dorm rooms…  I also got my lip pierced, which was super scary but also very exciting. It still hurts a bit, but it was a lot of fun.

Break has been a pretty good time, even though it could have been potentially really boring and lonely. My friends are the best for wanting to have a crazy time with me. I guess now that I’ve done all that, I should maybe get a start on all my homework.

Homeless and Hungry

This weekend, the Fargo-Moorhead area had an opportunity to take part in something fantastic. This amazing event was Homeless and Hungry. The idea is simple. Sleep outside in cardboard boxes to raise awareness about homelessness in the area and money to help try and combat it. Throughout the area, students raised over $130,000 and 40,000 pounds of donated items. This money will be distributed throughout the FM Area to families and individuals in need.

With an event this big, of course Concordia was involved. On Saturday night, there was a dance which served to raise awareness and money and also get everyone excited about helping those in need. Students who brought $5 could also make blankets that would be donated. Then the students headed outside to sleep in boxes. It got down to about 30 degrees that night. Brr.

It’s always incredibly heartwarming to see so many people come together for a great cause. Students of all ages across the area joined to fight homelessness and hunger and it’s something that many FM residents will be forever thankful for.

What a Beautiful Day

To be alive! It has been absolutely gorgeous on campus the past couple weeks. The sun has been shining on the beautiful faces of the students and faculty and life has been good. Nothing feels better than wearing shorts in the middle of October, especially since a year ago, it had already snowed. Living in Moorhead all my life, you'd think I'd get used to the cold weather, but alas, every fall/winter the cold temperature sneaks up on me and does not make me a happy camper. I handle this by making the beautiful days count.

So what to do when it's so nice out?

1. Study Outside!

Okay, so I guess I get a little more distracted when I study outside, but it's so relaxing. It's a great way to de-stress after a tough day of classes and it's also helpful to soak in a little vitamin D. I would recommend Prexy's Pond or Olin Hill. Both equally awesome for doing homework (or falling asleep, if the sun is shining just right).

 
2. Play Outside!
The fall is the perfect time to play outside. Not as many bugs because of the chilly nights and plenty of fun, crunchy leaves. My friend Tessa and I like to toss a football around when it's nice out. It's a great way to be active (we're totally against the Freshman-15) and it's a ton of fun! Plus, you never know, we could get so good by next year, the football team will be begging us to join.

3. Sun bathe!
Tanning salons are expensive. Take advantage of the sun. It's free. Even better, take a nap while you're getting a nice tan. Or tan and do homework. So many things to do.

4. Read a book!
Books for fun are much more exciting than doing homework. Read Harry Potter or Catch-22. Exercise that brain in a fun way.

5. Take Advantage of the Campus WiFi...
...and check Facebook on Olin Hill. It's oddly satisfying. It's also a ton of fun to Skype outside.

Just being outside is awesome, no matter what it is I've decided to do. I hope this weather lasts for awhile!

Compassion

I honestly believe that if this world had just a little bit more compassion, we would all be better off. At least in my case, compassion drives my actions. I genuinely feel for people who tend to be worse off and it compels me to do something about it. Every food drive, every fundraiser, every person that just needs someone to listen - I jump at the chance to get involved and do my part.

With Extreme Home Makeover finishing up and National Coming Out Week just beginning, the Fargo-Moorhead area is bursting with compassion. Unfortunately, there's also a lot of hate floating around this week. It makes me sad to see it. If we all just had a little more tolerance, a bit more love and yes, compassion, I have no doubt that living around here would just be that much better.

I think Concordia does a great job of fostering compassion. There are so many clubs and groups that promote love, tolerance and kindness. I feel so loved when I step foot on this campus and the only possible explanation as to why I feel that way is because I truly am loved! The Professors care about me, the faculty and staff are so incredibly nice and the students that I'm surrounded by have so much kindness in them. This school is so warm and inviting. I only wish the rest of the world would follow suit.

BREW

Ever since I’ve arrived on campus, I feel like I haven’t heard anything talked about quite as much as BREW, or, Becoming Responsible Engaged in the Word, which is part of the Mission Statement. For the most part, I’ve just been nodding and agreeing, without really thinking about what that means.

In a care package my youngest cousin gave me, I got 100 quotes. One-a-day for the next 100 days. So far they’ve all been just pretty fun, happy things that add a little brightness to my day, but today’s was different.

“The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” – William James

It was like BREW was hitting me in the face with my morning coffee. Being responsibly engaged in the world means something important. It’s making the world a better place, improving the lives of those less fortunate, learning through service and most importantly, living the way Christians should.

One thing I’m really excited for is Brew Week. I actually was fortunate enough to be able to make one of the bowls that they’re selling during that week for the Empty Bowls Campaign. It was so much fun and I love being able to help out the homeless and hungry in my community. I think I’ve always had the mindset for BREW, I just didn’t really connect it to my education until, like, this morning. I’m glad I made that connection now, at least, and not later.

Homecoming 2010

Homecoming was amazing. Beyond words, almost. This weekend was packed full of friends, family, excitement and entertainment. I was so impressed by all the Freshman talent that was showcased at Frosh Frolics and the bonfire was one of the most legit fire-related things I've ever been to. I'd never seen a fire quite so big in my entire life. I could feel the heat no matter where I stood. The fireworks were also super awesome.

The parade was also super exciting! I'd been in the Concordia Homecoming parade before with my high school's marching band but throwing candy was a lot more fun than playing drums, not gonna lie. 

The game was also fun, even though we lost. The final score was 14 - 38 but honestly, I had a great time just being surrounded by my friends and family, I wasn't too heartbroken over the loss (plus, I don't think my high school won a homecoming game all 4 years I went there, so I'm used to it). The Johnny Holms dance was also super fun, even though I didn't stay too long.

Honestly, even with all the jollification around me, the most exciting part of the weekend was to see my family. My cousin went to Concordia and graduated this past spring, so I'm not really used to her not being around quite yet. It was really nice to get to see her again.

All in all, I enjoyed every single minute of this past weekend (aside from Fjelstad's fire alarm going off at 3 am Sunday morning). Everything I expirience just reinforces the thought that I really do indeed belong here.

Homecoming!

Today is the start of homecoming festivities and I’m beyond excited! Being a Freshman is so awesome because all of this is brand new to me. At my old high school, homecoming was fun, but it wasn’t as big a thing as it is here. We had the game, the dance, and the parade that we shared with MSUM, but that was it. There was some pride and some excitement but it’s nothing like what I’ve seen here so far. There’s so much going on and I can’t wait for it all to happen. Tonight is Frosh Frolics and the bonfire. Two of my favorite things: talent and fire. I’m also super excited for the parade, because I get to walk with Circle K. Plus, I get to throw candy, and who doesn’t like to do that?

I can’t believe how fast Concordia became “home” for me. This is exactly where I want to be. Some of the best people I’ve ever met reside or work on this campus. I’m proud to be a Cobber! Not only because of how awesome it is, but because it’s practically a family tradition. My grandparents went here, and then worked here, my mom and all her siblings went here and a few of my cousins did too. I love being able to share this with my family. Maroon and gold is where it’s at.

(View original post at http://cobblog.cord.edu/?cat=65 )

Nom nom nom!

Let’s be honest. Dining Services gets old. It’s not that it isn’t good food, because it definitely is, but eating the same type of food every day gets pretty monotonous. The first couple weeks, I got pizza and pasta for every meal. Not a good idea, trust me.

Today, my friends and I decided to take a little trip to downtown Fargo and get some food that differed from the stuff served at DS. It was magical. We went to Spicy Pie on Broadway, which is a wonderful pizza shop. Don’t worry though, it actually was a break from Dining Services, because I gave up on eating pizza for every meal like a week ago. Plus, no other pizza in the world can compare to that of Spicy Pie’s. True story.

It honestly was just nice to get off campus in addition to the awesome dinner. Nothing beats a little adventure to downtown Fargo. I have to remember to do that more often.

(view original post here)

Feeling euphoric

I've had a permanent smile plastered to my face for the past few days and it's nothing short of glorious. I probably look a little weird walking through campus, grinning to myself all the time, but it can't be helped. I just love it here, and I'm having so much fun. It's incredible.

Aside from climbing trees, falling down all the time and getting stuck in peculiar situations, the thing that's making me the most happy right now is my new almost-job. :) I get to blog for Concordia. How cool is that? I'm beyond excited to start. Concordia is so full of amazing opportunities and experiences and I know I made the right decision to come here.

Top 5 (Part II)

The Top 5 BEST things about college. :)

1.The Freedom!

Sleeping, eating, doing homework - all whenever I choose to. If I want to go on a midnight walk with one of my friends, the only thing stopping me is the cold. It's so amazing to be able to do whatever, whenever. The past 3 weeks have been so amazing, and it's largely because I've just been able to live my life and have fun. :)



Sam Ham, Tessa and myself.



2. Making Friends.

I know this was on the list of the hardest things about college, but it's also super awesome. It's hard at first, but it gets easier, and I LOVE to meet new people. I love the people on my floor, in my classes, and the randoms I meet just from being around. The people at Concordia are so amazing, no joke.

3. The Classes
Yes, the homework sucks, but it's so awesome to take the classes that I'm actually interested in. No more having to take crappy classes just because. I suppose this goes along with the freedom as well, but it's just so awesome that I thought it deserved a number. :)]

4. The Clubs

There's something for everyone, here at Concordia. I'm actually having a hard time trying not to join all the clubs I want. I'm sticking with 2 for now (Campus Democrats and Circle K) because I'm a little afraid of burning out from doing too much right away. Next year though... I'm doing everything!

5. The People

Everyone here is so nice. I've experienced nothing but acceptance and niceness (is that a word?) from everyone I've met. I can strike up a conversation with anyone I meet, whether they be an upperclassman, faculty, or just another freshman like me. This is definitely the kind of environment that I've always dreamed of being in. The camaraderie is fantastic and sense of belonging is even better.

Being a college freshman is way better than being a high school freshman. Not a joke.

I love it here.

Top 5

Part 1: The Top 5 Hardest Things About College

1. The Homework
In high school, I was blessed with the ability to slack off in class, take tons of naps, socialize to my hearts content, never study, and still pass with a 3.8 GPA. I sure enjoyed it then, but I'm kicking myself now. I forget that I need to pay attention always ("Constant vigilance!" - Mad Eye Moody). I have to spend hours on my homework. I need to study. It was a total wake-up call. It's easily the hardest thing about my college life right now.

2. Living Away From Home
My mother isn't around to wake me up in the morning if I sleep through my alarm, my step-dad isn't cooking wonderful meals at night, and I don't have all the familiarity of home. Don't get me wrong, I love college, it' just takes some getting used to.

3. Living With Another Person
I'm an only child (if you don't count my step-siblings) so I've had my own room my whole life. No one to keep me up, no one to bug me, no one to try and live with. It's definitely a different experience, but I also really like that I'm able to go through it. I guess if I ever get married, I'll need to have the skills to live in harmony with someone else.

4. Making Friends
I'm a naturally shy, self conscious person, so making friends was pretty difficult for me to do. Don't worry, I succeeded, and I'm still doing it, too, but man, it was scary the first couple of days. It's not like I never made new friends in high school, I certainly did, but I always had my central group of friends to hover back to. It was safe and familiar, and this college thing has been scary and unknown.

5. Lack of Sleep
I should have put this one as number 1, but seeing as how I'm running off a very small amount of sleep, I'm too tired and lazy to change the numbering around. So we'll just say that this list is in no particular order. I'm exhausted. I get very little sleep due to homework and my roommate being loud at night, and then during the day, it takes me longer to get my homework done because I'm so tired and easily distracted... quite the vicious circle. I'm hopped up on caffeine and the natural energy from fruit right now. I'm sure that eventually, I'll get used to running off less sleep than I'm familiar with, but right now, it kinda sucks.

Looking back at all of these, I realize that the common factor in all of them is simply the unfamiliarity, the unknown paths that I'm trekking down. That reminds me of one of my favorite quotes of all time: "It’s the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more." - Dumbledore

But why is that? Why is the unknown so freaking scary? I have no idea, but I do know this: fear can be overcome, and better yet, embraced. I prefer to embrace my fear and my anxiety, and then charge head on into the situation at hand.

I think that's what college is about. Charging into the unknown and coming out a better person.

Orientation

Move in day. All of my stuff eventually (finally) got organized, arranged, rearranged and then rearranged one more time. Then came the scariest part: leaving my family and walking into Memorial Auditorium alone to try and scope out my orientation club. My hands were shaking and my heart was beating so loud, I was convinced everyone in the auditorium could hear it as I walked up the seamlessly ending staircase to my club. Club 14. Our theme was Red Bull, and our slogan was "Jacked on Taurine with Club 14!"

The fear soon melted into happiness. I was surrounded by 21 other scared-shitless Freshman and slowly, we all morphed into friends. Orientation was long and tiring and though part of me was so happy to toss my beanie with 600 other people and finally start classes, another part of me missed the camaraderie and excitement of the first few days. They packed our schedules so full that there was no time to fathom being lonely but after they cut us loose, the loneliness was starting to emerge. The advice I would give to first year students is this: make friends the first couple days. Lots of friends. And spend time with them, even after orientation is over and classes start, because it really does make a difference.