Becoming a College Pro

I feel old. Very, very old. I just moved into my box. I bought my parking permit. And thoughout my various dealings today, I've had people ask me if I needed assistence. And I've always said no -- this is only my fifth time doing all this stuff.

Four years ago, when I did all this stuff the first time, I was completely lost. I didn't know where I was going or what was expected of me. I didn't even know what one was supposed to put into her backpack.

During Orientation Week four years ago, I believe it was Saturday morning when one of the Orientation Leaders pounded on my door and bellowed, "SPEAKER IN 15 MINUTES! EVERYBODY UP! GET MOVING!" They took us to.... the Fine Arts Theatre?? where we listened to this guy tell us cutesy little freshmen "How to become a College Pro." He told us to take notes. To get contacts. (People -- not the little round things people stick in their eyes.) Don't gossip about your professors -- cuz they talk about their students in the same manner that their students talk about them. Go to class. Do an internship. But mostly, develop a rock-solid reason why you're there in the first place. (Man -- I can't believe I remember that!)

In a way, I've become a college pro. I've gone from bringing everything because "I don't know what I'll need" to leaving practically everything because "I can go get it later if I need it." I've gone from that girl that got lost between BA and the RA trying to get to the cafeteria to the one who not only knows how to get everywhere, but the one who knows where to send specific paperwork and which office to go to for different services. I've become the SMSU guru, of sorts. I absolutely love Orientation Week now. There are so many lost freshmen who don't have any idea where they're going or what they're doing. They're so cute....

It's weird that I'm starting my fifth year. Wow. Whoever would have thought that a girl like me -- who didn't even know what to put in a backpack -- would get this far?
~MJ