So it's been a few days now, and I think my feet are pretty much under my body. I've made it past the baby giraffe stage. I'm working my way to becoming a fully fledged adult giraffe! Albeit a relatively short, Asian giraffe, but an adult giraffe nonetheless! I still have much to learn but hey, at least I haven't made any truly bad decisions... yet.
One thing I have heard multiple times during orientation is how often students change their major (which is 3.5, in case you were wondering). In addition to this, we have been repeatedly battered with the speech about how the decisions we make here will affect our future well-being, and not just financially. A statistic was given that said 70-80% of Americans weren't satisfied with their job choice. The speaker then explained how unsatisfactory conditions in the workplace can translate to worse health, a worse outlook on life, and a worse family life. When I heard this, I thought (to quote the author John Green) I've gotta outlast 4 of these bastards. And by outlast, I mean have a more satisfying job choice. College is cutthroat! What can I say?
Also, food is life. food is life. Food. Is. Life. Lunch at the campus caf costs eight (plus) bucks! I would rather have a Subway off campus and get a footlong for less. When there is free food, you go. You do not care if the meeting doesn't apply to you. If there's food, you go. I (and all the other freshman) went to a leadership meeting earlier this week where there was pizza. A few were probably there to actually learn about the class, but the rest of us, it was the pizza. Personally, I would be interested in the class, but I knew I didn't have space in my schedule... so pizza.
Lastly, I have found that there are generally two types of people when it comes to first time interactions.
Exhibit A: The Conversator
These are the ones who are actually delighted and excited to see you. They may have initiated the contact and extended a hand. It's quite nice to meet these people.
Exhibit B: The Interviewee
These people give seem more introverted and nervous. I feel like I get nosy. It's not them, it's me... or is it them? idk. I just wanna talk. It's at this point I start running out of questions. I also start wondering, What questions won't they answer?
I usually don't keep venturing further into their personal life... It's a very one sided conversation, and I immediately try to figure out the best plan of retreat. This usually takes the form of the words "nice to meet you, [insert strangers name that I will never remember here]" and we shake hands.
Okay, I take it back. College isn't cutthroat (... yet). If anything, college has been an exercise in cooperation. There's an unwritten code where Freshmen help Freshmen not look like Freshmen. We've had the campus all to ourselves this week, and we've developed relationships that will help us not look like newbies as much as we would if we were tossed into college all willy-nilly. I've also learned how to interact with guys in the dorm.
This is gonna be fun. Let the adventures begin!
Best wishes! -Richie