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.
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.
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!
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 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!
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