Back When I Was in College....

The week is finally here for most high school graduates to make the big leap off to the college dorms. I was thinking back and realizing that it was just about this time 10 years ago that I was a young freshman moving into the dorms. Wow. It seems like forever ago, and yet I'd say that time has gone by so fast. In honor of the students I know heading off to dorm life I thought I'd post a page straight out of my freshman scrapbook and write up a list of my top ten memories of early dorm life.

1. My parents wanted to set me up for technology success at college so that managed to find someone with an old hand me down computer that I could take. I didn't mind that it was old, I was happy to have my own computer. Too bad when I got to the dorms and tried to set it up we realized that it was so old that it wasn't compatible with modern internet :(
2. Speaking of computers, it wasn't that long ago that most students didn't have a personal desktop, let alone a laptop, to take to school with them. The dorm I lived in had a build in shelf that attached to the desks that wasn't designed to fit with a computer. We literally had to unscrew the shelf to make room for a computer.
3. One of the things that I remember my mom reminding me to do at college was to balance my checkbook frequently. As in, an actual checkbook where I recorded the checks that I wrote. Checks! Most places don't even take a check anymore. I guess that debit cards and online banking really changed life for college students.
4. Like most college students, I didn't have much money. I remember that my roommate and I would fill up huge UNT water bottles with milk and orange juice from the cafeteria so that we didn't have to buy any. We did buy our own cereal so that we didn't have to allow time to walk down to the cafeteria in the morning so that we could sleep in as long as possible. 
5. I took 12 hours of class my first semester. And I didn't work. That means that I only had 12 hours out of an entire week that I had to be somewhere! And yet I remember feeling really busy. What was I doing?
6. I'm pretty sure that I studied a lot. I actually ended up graduating with a 4.0. Yet shockingly, I failed my first ever college test. I had never failed a test before and don't think I ever failed one after. I was horrified. It was for a professor who's name (and questionable wardrobe) I still remember. Ryan had this professor also (years after me) and we still joke about our memories of him.
 7. College is a great time to meet people - like your suite mates! Our suite mate was a bit crazy and we could always hear her spitting in the shower. We didn't hang out with her much.
8. Since we weren't hanging out with our suite mate, we needed to call other friends. Good thing we had a land line phone! I remember my roommate being excited to purchase her own landline - with an answering machine - with her graduation money. How many current freshman are purchasing a landline for their dorm room? Not many I bet.
9. One person that I always called from college was my mom. I missed my mom so much when I moved out. I'll be honest, I cried when it was that final moment to hug my parents goodbye after moving in. My roommate was my best friend and I was so excited for college, but there was something sad about that moment when you realize that you're on your own.
10. I recall having a specific conversation with some friends about how I wanted to finish college as fast as possible to move on with my life. My plan was to graduate in 3 years. 5 years later, I was so happy that I actually spend a little bit of extra time in college. College is such a unique time in life, there is no need to rush it. Make friends, learn new things, and enjoy it!

Hope all of the new freshman have great move in experiences and an awesome freshman year! Call your mom often.