My First Week of College!!!

Hey guys, so I just got done with my first week of college!!! I know, exciting right?

Well it definitely was exciting but it was also very scary. Thankfully I have good teachers and suite mates.

I must admit that I cried A LOT this week. I have been so sad and I miss my boyfriend tons! Every time I am on Skype with him I cry because he is on a screen and not next to me.

People have been telling me that it will pass soon and it helps to get involved on campus. However, to be perfectly honest I have mostly been in my dorm because I have either been on Skype or doing homework haha. And believe me there has been a decent amount of homework. Step aside high school because college is INTENSE.

I have five main classes: public speaking, writing and research, intro to psychology, math and philosophy. As well as three others: core which is basically lectures and such, not 100% sure what it is because it doesn't start until the week after next, Freshman seminar and break out which is basically lecture and lab.

My teachers are very nice and interactive. My writing professor is very out there and I like having teachers that are actually engaging compared to boring teachers who just lecture at you all class long.

The next step along your journey....

In life change is inevitable. You change jobs, schools, you move to a new location, start a relationship or maybe end one. It is an inescapable truth that things are always changing, nothing is ever static.

When embarking on the next leg of your journey, the road ahead is full of uncertainties. You are stepping out of your comfort zone and fearlessly entering the unknown.

This journey for me: college.

I must admit that I am very nervous and not 100% sure what to expect. I’m worried that I will mess up or let my procrastination get the best of me. I’m sad about not seeing my boyfriend or family every day. I have been crying on and off for days, usually on Johnny’s (Boyfriend) shoulder.

When making changes in your life you wind up thinking about things that you never have before, “how will I do on my own,” “what will it be like living on my own?” The prospect of living on your own at first seems like a grand idea, freedom to do whatever you want. Suddenly the quote from Spiderman comes to mind: “With great power comes great responsibility.” Living on your own is a true test of going from a kid to an adult. It takes a tremendous amount of accountability and responsibility. You no longer have your parents there to stand over your shoulder and tell you to “do your homework”, “do your laundry” or “go to bed so you can wake up on time.”

Some days I can’t stop thinking about if I’m gonna be ok on my own. I have never had my own bedroom and I’m scared of the dark. I am bi-polar and not the best at handling stress or anger. All these things, all the little things you maybe don’t show to anyone but the people who live with you or take care of you on a daily basis. You think, “how the heck do I handle this on my own, and what the heck will my room mate think if I slip up?” The prospect of this is embarrassing.  And I am honestly horrified of slipping up.

However, despite everything, I am going forth to the next leg of my journey and the next chapter of my story. So I will brace myself for a bumpy ride, but who knows, maybe the skies will suddenly clear. I have faith that I can push through, that I can find my balance and my place.

Wish me luck.

And to all those facing your own journeys in life, I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world.

Scholarships Never End!

So most people think that the only time they can apply for scholarships is during "Scholarship Season" which usually goes along with college applications and runs betweens December to May. But guess what? That is so not true! While the bulk of scholarships are available during that season, you can find them year round! Honestly, scholarships search engines will save you a lot of time and effort. My best friend for scholarships has been FastWeb.com. Like most of these search engines you enter in some of your general iformation and it finds scholarships that you should be elegable for. I have gone through several search engines and they're ok, but just over all, I like the interface and just the set up of FastWeb. Another close second that I use off and on is Cappex.com (which is advertised on Fastweb). So I think I have applied to at least 20 scholarships and I have won two (not including the ones I got from FAFSA and my college.) I have to say I am extremely thankful that I have been able to get as much financial aid as I have. My school's "sticker price" which includes some estimated costs was $40,000, and thanks to financial aid and scholarships aprox. 90% of the cost for my freshman year has been covered. I swear I preach to people to make sure to apply for the FAFSA, Cal Grant, and as many scholarships as you can get your hands on (and make sure to pay attention. You may have to write some essays and It will make your life so much easier, and help you keep your wallet a little happier!