Friday, December 16, 2016

first semester


first lecture hall
first parking pass
first bad mark in an English class (!)
first major research essay
first year I looked around and realized that I have more best friends than I can count
first ever night class
first time I stayed up past midnight studying
first month I counted the cycles of the moon and knew what they meant
first time driving with snow tires on my car
first time I had fun studying for a midterm
first time I looked around and thought, here I am
first time I absolutely knew I was in the right place
first three-hour exam in a gym with hundreds of other people
first semester of university - check.



on Tuesday mornings I'd walk to the social sci building and set my computer up in the caf, and by the time an hour had passed, the three seats around me would be full, friends stopping by between classes or on the way to work (didn't get much studying done, but whatever).

I never stopped feeling like campus was a castle in England and I was a girl in a book, my backpack a little too heavy (20lbs, to be exact) and my hopes sky-high.

the first time I was handed back a bad mark on an English paper, and how sweet it felt when my next essay was returned with the words "nicely done!" typed at the bottom of my last paragraph. I sat with one of the girls from my tutorial in our lectures, and we'd exchange study notes and try to guess when our prof would hold the next pop quiz.

I fell in love with a local radio station during the half hour drive to school and now suddenly I find myself flipping to the station all the time, even when I'm not driving

lying on one of the couches in the physics and astronomy building in between classes

watching the first episode of gilmore girls in a crowded library with one of my childhood besties - we each got an earbud and crowded around the computer screen while people moved and laughed and walked by somewhere way in the background

study notes on index cards, something I never did in high school but am now in love with. and HIGHLIGHTERS. who knew?

the exhilaration of writing an English exam within a time limit, trying to force an idea to pop into existence and bloom at your fingertips in a matter of seconds, instead of letting it bubble slowly to the surface. the risk of sitting with your chin in hand to think as the clock ticks away your time.


I could go on... oh, forever. I've missed this! What firsts have occurred in your lives this fall? How do you feel about school?

xx,
Olivia





 


 

19 comments:

  1. Missed your posts, Olivia! I'm happy to hear you seem to be enjoying college. And local radio stations are the best. Nothing like 'em. I love my hometown country station SO MUCH.

    (By the way I wanted to tell you I've started a new blog -- onthissugarmountain.blogspot.com -- and I'd be super honored if you popped by.) :-)

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    1. I missed YOU, Emma Jane!! I'm so excited to read up on your new blog! Your words are like a light - they warm my heart <3

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  2. OH MY WORD. This post is so perfect! I just finished my first college term and I really should write a post like this one! (I have some inspiration now!) Congratulations on your first semester! YOU DID IT! I adore the castle looking college and how you feel like you are in England! YAY! This post is so wonderful!

    The same thing happened to me in math. I didn't do well on the first exam but did excellent on the second and the teacher wrote a note like that one! Unfortunately I did get a bad mark in math but it's alright we need to fail to exceed right?

    Wonderful catching up with you!
    www.itssimplyme.com

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    1. THANK YOU VANESSA. And girl, we are totally twinning in the uni experience! Congrats on the second math exam - and absolutely, failure teaches SO many lessons. I've learned a lot about myself these past few months - and some of that has been because I had to pick myself up after getting a mark a lot lower than I wanted and keep going! We've totally got this. *fistbump of solidarity*

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    2. I know! It's nice to find someone who is in college as well! College is teaching me many life lessons which I am really appreciating but only after the fact because in the moment I am too catch up to take a step back and reflect. We will survive!

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  3. Oh, college sounds so amazing!! Living somewhere new, learning independence, pursuing what you want to pursue...

    That campus is gorgeous!! Might I ask what school it is? It really does look like a place in England! :)

    ~Liv
    oliviakfisher.blogspot.com

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    1. Olivia! (There are so many Olivias in the blogging world! I'm loving it). uni is full of ups and downs... but overall, I'm liking it so far! Thanks for commenting!!

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  4. Mind if I ask if you're going to Western?

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    1. Just for the sake of privacy, I'd rather not say! But I've been to Western, and it does have a beautiful campus!

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  5. Welcome back! I've missed you!
    My first semester I had an evening class, too. And I'm having another one this spring semester. I have to admit that I don't think I've ever stayed up past midnight studying--I have stayed up past minute avoiding studying, though. I get that feeling of just knowing you're in the right place. College is tough, but I love it so, so much. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing right now.

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    1. Alex!! This comment made me so happy! Evening classes... I have so much trouble concentrating after 7pm :p I don't envy you your spring one! And good for you for not studying past midnight - that's my goal for next semester!

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  6. I am SO happy that you've had a great experience!!!

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  7. Glad your college experience has been so good. Definitely sounds like you've done some fun and exciting things :)
    This Fall I drove for the first time in snow. I've had my license a couple years, but I just never have needed to until now, even though we do get snow every year. Anyway, I was caught out after dark, and the snow was coming down pretty hard and had already accumulated at least an inch or maybe two on the ground. Perhaps I was blissfully unaware, but driving in it didn't really bother me. In fact, 25 MPH is kinda my speed, and there wasn't much traffic out. I loved how when I turned on the brights, it felt like I was shooting through outer space or something. Woulda given anything for a sleigh, though.

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    1. Sagebrush, I totally have! :) Uni has had it's challenging moments for sure, but I've ended the semester feeling so good.
      Congrats on your first snow drive!! Those are SCARY! I'm so glad you made it home safely - and enjoyed it! Snow in the dark is awfully pretty.

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  8. I am so glad to hear from you! This post was so sweet. College seems so crazy to think about right now but I just want to take it a step at a time and I'm sure it won't be that bad :) God is good.

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    1. Autumn, I love hearing from you too! Thanks so much for your sweet comment! Taking uni/college one step at a time is the best idea... it's overwhelming and wonderful and scary and fun and hard, but so so good. :) God IS good, and I have every confidence in you! You can do it. :)

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  9. College is so exciting, isn't it? It's kinda like the Taylor Swift song, "We're happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time." Like a whirlwind of emotions! My first semester (a year ago now, as I'm a sophomore) was kinda like this. Finally meeting new people, walking the sidewalks with confidence. Going to class. Staying out late. Football games.

    I'm happy to hear about your first semester, and here's to many more great ones! Let's keep our eyes on Jesus!

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  10. YOU HAVE SUCH A NICE WAY WITH WORDS. You're almost making me miss classes. Almost ;)

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