Freshman Follies

Imagine this: Your parents drop you off half way across the country in a building where you are required to share a bathroom with twenty other girls. The next day, you are expected to find your French class which is in the English building and your English class which is in the music building and your communications class which is in the science building. You haven't even found an outlet in your dorm yet. Each professor expects that you have studied, annotated, and memorized their extensive syllabus. You still aren't sure you are in the right class. After the rat-race of classes, you are invited to join about 17 trillion clubs, ministries, intermurals, and choirs. Honestly, you'd just like to remember whether you live in room 212 or 220. You reach your dorm room and are so close to sinking into that fresh-out-of-the-plastic mattress pad when you find out that sleep doesn't exist in college. Somehow, it's suddenly 8am and the cup of coffee in your hand is your only life source.

Welcome to freshman year!

This past week I had a few embarrassing freshman moments that included slamming a door into my own face while talking to a "cool upperclassman" and almost slamming a door into Dr. Bowling's, the president of Olivet, face. My embarrassment also reminded me of my first "freshman moment," the first day of classes when I sat in the wrong classroom until they took attendance and I realized I was not taking an advanced diction class this semester. Awkward... I asked some of my friends for their most embarrassing moments on campus thus far. One said she wore her sweater inside-out all day before an older girl came by and told her. Another walked into the boy's bathroom. I think I have been pretty lucky compared to that.

But seriously, being a freshman is weird. You are technically an adult, but you feel like a little kid on campus with all of these "grown-ups." Also, you still call people grown-ups which may be a problem. You start to realize that you don't have to tell anyone when you feel like leaving campus to drive around. You don't even have to go to class if you don't want to. And then, if you are like me, you plunge into a panic attack because you aren't sure you are a responsible enough adult to be responsible for yourself.

I like it though. It's this new, terrifying phase of live, but you get to do it with 800 other people. It's like an awkward, extremely lost, but learning community.

Freshman, we are tough. College is hard, people. Not everyone survives that first semester. Those who do deserve an honorary Olympic medal, in my unbiased opinion.

Comment with some of your "freshman moments" from college. :) Blessings!

A Blessed Break and a Quick Update

This Friday an admissions tour came through Williams and asked to see my room. This happens a lot (because my room is awesome), and I'd eventually like to give these tours, so I, of course, said yes. They looked around, and then the admissions ambassador asked me to share my favorite part of dorm life.
I went completely blank.
I had no answer.
At that moment in time, I couldn't think of a single thing that I enjoyed about dorm life, which is absurd because I love living here.
That's when I realized it was most definitely time for a break.

Lucky for me, I get one! It is fall break here at ONU. Even though I don't get to go home, it will still be a break from the high-paced schedule, the never-ending homework, and the constant social interaction. I will miss everyone, but I am very excited to not have to wait for a shower and to have a room all to myself.

The best part is that my dad is coming to visit me on Monday! I am so excited to see that familiar face with the familiar hugs and familiar jokes (sorry dad, I have heard them all). ;)

I don't have anything particularly witty or inspired to say, but my mom told me people had been asking how I was. So, I am well! I love it here at Olivet. Every day is a confirmation that I am where I'm supposed to be.

I have been going through a bit of a rough patch emotionally. It is a hard task to learn how to manage emotions amidst a nonstop schedule and without the constant support and understanding of my family. But I am trying to be aware of my needs: when I should get more sleep (probably always), when I need alone time, when chocolate is a necessity (definitely always). I especially feel that I need to find a spiritual mentor or partner who can pour into my life. Prayers for God's provision of and for this person or group of people would mean a lot to me.

I am, of course, keeping very busy. The fall play is going well. I am playing Sheila, a cheerful woman with mental disabilities. The role has been both fun and challenging. I'm keeping my grades up to "Hope standards" and learning all about progressive education, literary analysis, and French chansons!

I'm still searching for a church home, so please pray that I see God's direction in this area of my life.

God bless each of you and thank you always for the thoughts and prayers. AND LETTERS! They make my day every time. :)

Anecdotes of Olivet

In the wise words of Anne Shirley, "I'm so glad I live in a world with Octobers!"
Hello and happy October, everyone! Isn't it beautiful? Pumpkin spice, sweaters, bonfires, mmmm.

Anecdote (noun): a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature

This week, I thought I would just share some stories of my time here at Olivet thus far. I hope you find them "of an interesting and amusing nature." ;)

I Quit

 While I love it here the vast majority of the time, college is very new and very different. It's challenging, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but again, it's CHALLENGING. There have been three days so far that I have been ready to give up, pack my bags, and head home.

The first was a week into school when I realized that I would be eating the Sodexo cafeteria food for the next four years. I crawled into a corner and cried on the phone to my mom. I was so done. I couldn't handle another plate of bland chicken and rice. I was already scrolling Southwest Airlines for a flight home when my floormates and I ordered a gluten free pizza from Monical's. I decided to stick around a little bit longer.
The next was about two weeks ago, when at 4am, a very strange siren entered my dreams followed by a vigorous banging at my door and "fire!!" In the words of Sweet Brown, "I ran outside. Didn't grab my shoes or nothing, Jesus!" Two hundred freshman girls stood outside--barefoot, clad in bathrobes, retainers still in--huddling together. I'm not sure at what point we realized that it was a drill, but oh the wrath of sleep deprived college freshmen! After half an hour of teeth chattering and death threats to whomever was responsible for this wake up call, we went back to our rooms. I flopped on my bed, picked up my phone, and texted my parents to inform them that I was dropping out of Olivet and coming home as soon as humanly possible. It took more than gluten free pizza to bounce back from that.

The last time was Monday, when I found out how to see my grades online. I was so overwhelmed. I cried, "What if this isn't where I'm supposed to be? I thought college was supposed to be fun all the time!" (Don't know who I heard that lie from...) I was so ready to come home this time. Then I imagined myself working for minimum wage the rest of my life. Once again, I decided to stay. Then I decided to add a minor and sign for some more activities. That's one way to handle it...

Go Team

I went to a football game. And cheered. That is all. 

Giving and Receiving
Last month, for some still unfathomable reason, I, Hope Morris, signed up to give blood. The same Hope Morris that told the nurse to give the shot to herself at age 4. The same Hope Morris who hid under the table at the doctor's office until she was 12. This same Hope Morris signed up to give blood.

 Why did I do this? That's a terrific question. Maybe I wanted to save three lives; maybe I wanted a personal triumph over fear; but probably it was just freshman adrenaline, otherwise known as too much coffee. 

I sat behind a curtain and began to fill out the questionnaire. It kept saying all these gross words like "blood" and "plasma" and "veins". That was the first time I almost threw up. I had brought a friend with me, to hold my hand and help me walk back to the room without passing out later. As the nurse stuck me over and over, my friend, Hannah, kept me preoccupied, chattering warmly. Long story short, the nurse couldn't find the vein, I almost threw up again, and all the interns had to observe my reaction (apparently throwing up at the sight of needles is quite a phenomena). While all of this was happening, Hannah held my hand, encouraged me, and gave up her study time to keep me sane. She also realized that I wouldn't be able to eat any of the food they had provided when I finished. So she texted our floormates, who gathered some snacks together and brought them to me. 

While the bruises on my arms and I intend to find a different way of saving three lives and exerting adrenaline next time, this experience was so valuable. I felt people caring for me when they had no obligation; I think that's what friendship looks like.

Life isn't perfect here, but when is life ever perfect? I'm learning, growing, and making memories. I hope you enjoyed these little snippets of life here. I'd love to hear yours too.

God bless and much love!