IT’S OCTOBRRRRR

So the cold came. I knew it had to happen, but I didn’t anticipate such a quick change! I personally hate rain, snow, wind, coldness, and anything that inhibits me from putting on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt to go out. I’ve lived in Colorado my whole life and still cannot see the beauty in shivering. To those of you who love camping in sub-zero temperatures, more power to you, but I don’t even like going below 60 degrees! I actually keep my dorm room at a cozy 75-80 degrees. I’d like to think my roomie is okay with this, but she never seems to be around, so it probably doesn’t bother her. Anyway, there are times, though, that I have to leave the comfort of my room and go to class, via the sidewalks outside. Walking through campus in the rain is not the most pleasant of activities. The good thing about the Mines campus is that it is so small and buildings are like a minute away – walking distance – from each other. I pretty much love the small campus here –I don’t have to take a bus to get to my next class. Also, the view of the mountains here is so pretty, and the snow makes it even prettier. The immense amount of trees on campus also makes the foliage a nice sight in the fall. There is literally an ocean of leaves on the ground in some places – you can’t even see the grass beneath it.

Beyond the Books

Why talk about exam scores when you could be talking about happy things? For those of you prospective students who get the vibe that we Mines kids study 24/7, think again! For the size of this school, we have a HUGE number of clubs/organizations. Talk about opportunities…. I actually got too excited (if such a thing exists) my second week of school and signed up for like 15 clubs/sports/organizations! After the hype died down, I narrowed my activities to 3-4. Who would’ve thought I would end up as a club women’s Ultimate Frisbee player?! Can I just say, Ultimate Frisbee is pretty serious. I actually had to order a pair of cleats, and coach says I need to work on my low-release backhand and like 8 other different throwing techniques. When I was touring the campus way back when, I was told that students in a sport tend to have better grades at Mines, so I naturally thought “Sign me up! Now!”.

 Home is Where the Heart is

I’d say a big contributing factor to the huge adjustment that is the “college leap” is living away from home for the first time. For me, I knew it was time for some needed change that came with some much needed independence. My parents are only 45 minutes away though, so I keep very close contact with them still; the homesickness never really hit me. For those students who came from more distant regions, I can only imagine that it would be a little difficult. I’ve talked to some people about how they have to stay at school over Thanksgiving break because of plane ticket prices. To prospective students who are scared of living close to home, I say “Don’t be!”. One piece of advice though, LIVE ON CAMPUS! Things are much easier accessed when living on campus, like tutoring, and making study groups. Also, the only people I hang out with now are those who live close to me. I would have probably been a loner had I not lived on campus, but that’s only because I’m on the shy side! Not because I’m socially awkward…well, not all the time….in most cases… ;-) Anyway, speaking of living on campus, it’s Health Inspection night for my floor – I must have forgotten to clean out that rancid cheese I put in the fridge a month ago. “No mold, please and thanks”.