June's Winding Down

So the first month of summer is slowly winding down. It's my first summer to spend here in Manhattan, and thus far it has been a blast. It's been much slower and much more quiet here than it is during the school year, and honestly, it's been nice.

I've learned quite a bit by moving into my first house. I've learned much more, much quicker than I initially anticipated. It's quite a bit different than living in the fraternity house, and through the first month, I can say that I feel I will enjoy it.

I told myself throughout last year that I wanted one year of my college experience to be different than the previous three—for better or worse. I felt like I owed it to myself to move out of the fraternity and experience a different angle of college.

I jumped out on a limb to come up to Manhattan out of high school, and I feel like I have done that yet again. I certainly made the right choice after high school, and I'm hoping I did it again this summer.

Today, while enrolling students in Kedzie Hall, I had a conversation with a future student's mom, and told her my story about why I chose to come to Manhattan, Kansas out of high school. It's a story I have told numerous people throughout college, as it is not necessarily common to move two states away for college. I told her I just wanted to jump out on a limb and try something new—essentially I wanted to start over.

It's not that I wanted to necessarily leave Dallas. I love where I grew up. But I saw an opportunity, one that I couldn't let slip by. So I took it, and it's been the best decision that I've made in my entire life. I feel like you can't possibly learn more about yourself, than taking a chance, and even if it scares you, to go ahead and take it, and see where life takes you.

For me, and I feel like everyone, college provides one of the best opportunities for someone to take a chance, and learn about themselves.

So that was my story, and after telling her, and it seems like every time I tell it to somebody, it makes even more sense. Maybe it's because after three years here, I can tell more clearly than ever that I made the right choice.

And I think that is why I have enjoyed this enrollment job so much. I get to share my story with new students, and hope that I can help them out just a little bit.

Three down...One to Go

Life moves much too quickly. If only it had a pause button and a remote. A "Life TiVo" would be nice because right now, I need one.

Somehow, I am about to begin my senior year at K-State and it is completely inevitable that it too will end much too quickly.

This summer I accepted a job in Kedzie Hall on campus to help enroll incoming freshmen into the Miller School of Journalism, knowing I would thoroughly enjoy it, and through the first week I have.

It's just funny though to know that just three years ago I too was in the same library about to enroll into my first semester at K-State. It seems to bring as much joy as it does fear. I have found myself several times feeling envious of the students who I am enrolling. What I wouldn't give to be in their position, about to enroll into the best four years I could possibly ask for.

It brings back a vivid memory, again from my first trip to Manhattan with my dad the summer prior to my freshman year. I remember right as we returned home to Dallas, shortly after I told him that I was certain I wanted to go to K-State, that my dad told me that he too was completely envious of myself. He too wanted to return to the four years he spent at K-State.

And now, looking back, I know just how he felt.

But I have one more year to go at K-State, and for that I am extremely grateful. It will be my goal to make the most of it, while at the same time trying to avoid the feelings of anxiety and fear.

I'm truly excited for what life holds beyond college, but for now, it's time to enjoy all college has to offer—one more time.