... what a "unique" and "different" experience.
Wow, I totally just sugar coated that previous line with the words
"unique and different". In all actuality, i wanted to type "I HATED
EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF IT!" i shall explain.
Unlike the community college i attended prior to this semester, ASU is
approximately 30 plus minutes away from my house (depending on
morning rush hour traffic).The campus is humongous, (or so it seems on foot)
but more so HOT. Maybe it's just me, but it seems as though the Tempe area
reflects or absorbs MORE of the suns beaming rays as opposed to the
Chandler area (Where I Live). I can not stress enough how HOT this desert
really is. Imagine running down a street trying to relentlessly escape a
huge man waving a scorching blow dryer in your face. It's so annoying
and so HOT. ASU has 69,000 students shoved into this small, downtown
Tempe area like a pack of sardines. I have never seen so many unfamiliar
faces walking and starring back at me in my life.
Tuesday was my first official day. I had classes from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm.
Yes, I am crazy! The plan was for my mom to drive me to school so as to
avoid the hassle of parking on campus. We left our house at 8:15 am thinking
45 minutes would be more than enough time for travel. We were wrong!
After sitting still in traffic for way too long and me freaking out about being
late, road rage kicked into HIGH gear. With the suggestion, given to me by
my also anxious mother, I swerved right and drove the rest of the way
(at least a few miles) in the emergency lane until I reached my exit. Zooming
past all those cars was the most comical moment of my day. I had never ever
done something so illegal (with permission) in my life. After much more
illegal driving, I FINALLY made it to campus. I parked in front of the building
to my class. I got out. My mom switched to the driver's side, wished me a
happy first day, and reluctantly drove off. With all the drama, you'd think i
was going to kindergarten all over again, and not my junior year of college.
After three back to back classes, my head was pounding. I ate a small
snack while I walked in the sweltering heat towards the union. Ahead
in the distance, I noticed a "Blood Bank" trailer. I immediately thought
"cool inside.. A/C..let's give blood." I signed my life away at that moment
or at least a few pints of it, and I walked inside. The nicest Hispanic lady
you'll ever meet handed me juice and cookies as I waited. A few minutes
later, another lady called my name and asked to see my ID. She then
looked up from her computer screen and said in the sweetest yet rudest
voice, "Ma'am You Don't Look Very Well, Are You Okay?" Confused, I
replied that I had a slight headache; but that was all. She stood up, and she
immediately shooed me out of the door insisting that I come back
when i felt 100%.
Kind of disappointed, I then walked inside the union. It was as crowded
as the mall near Christmas time. Again, so many unfamiliar faces.
I recognized NO ONE. Frustrated and alone, at this point I found a seat
in the basement of the union sitting next to a bunch of other people who
looked just as lost as I did. I wanted to leave. I wanted to drive
30 minutes all the way back home, (missing my last two classes) but i didn't
have my car. I sat there for over an hour. Holding back tears, I texted my bf
and my dad, and as always they provided me with words of encouragement.
They told me to be strong, and to basically suck it up.
I said a quick prayer (for the 38th time that day) and quickly found my
fourth class. Social Stratification was a breeze. This nice old Cuban professor,
with his thick accent let us out way early. Yes! Four classes down one to go.
I could make it. My last class on Tuesday was Personality Psychology. It
lasted from 4:40 pm until EXACTLY 7:30 pm. It was the first day of school
and this lady was serious about keeping us until the very last minute.
Nonetheless she was nice, and she made the class fun.
7:30 took FOREVER to come. At 7:31 my mom called. Thank God in Heaven.
She was already outside waiting to pick me up. I observed my surroundings,
walked a few blocks in the dark to where she was, and we headed home.
I had never been so happy to see her and my car. We made that once hectic
drive back home to Chandler in only 15 minutes.
There wasn't a soul hardly on the free way.
I had never felt so worn out, tired, and drained in my entire life. I felt sick.
I desperately needed sleep, a shower, and REAL food.
I eventually got all of the above.
If I didn't learn anything else my first day at ASU, I definitely learned
that the emergency lane on the express way is intended for extreme
emergencies ONLY (and punctuality on my first day was EXTREME).
Wow, I totally just sugar coated that previous line with the words
"unique and different". In all actuality, i wanted to type "I HATED
EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF IT!" i shall explain.
Unlike the community college i attended prior to this semester, ASU is
approximately 30 plus minutes away from my house (depending on
morning rush hour traffic).The campus is humongous, (or so it seems on foot)
but more so HOT. Maybe it's just me, but it seems as though the Tempe area
reflects or absorbs MORE of the suns beaming rays as opposed to the
Chandler area (Where I Live). I can not stress enough how HOT this desert
really is. Imagine running down a street trying to relentlessly escape a
huge man waving a scorching blow dryer in your face. It's so annoying
and so HOT. ASU has 69,000 students shoved into this small, downtown
Tempe area like a pack of sardines. I have never seen so many unfamiliar
faces walking and starring back at me in my life.
Tuesday was my first official day. I had classes from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm.
Yes, I am crazy! The plan was for my mom to drive me to school so as to
avoid the hassle of parking on campus. We left our house at 8:15 am thinking
45 minutes would be more than enough time for travel. We were wrong!
After sitting still in traffic for way too long and me freaking out about being
late, road rage kicked into HIGH gear. With the suggestion, given to me by
my also anxious mother, I swerved right and drove the rest of the way
(at least a few miles) in the emergency lane until I reached my exit. Zooming
past all those cars was the most comical moment of my day. I had never ever
done something so illegal (with permission) in my life. After much more
illegal driving, I FINALLY made it to campus. I parked in front of the building
to my class. I got out. My mom switched to the driver's side, wished me a
happy first day, and reluctantly drove off. With all the drama, you'd think i
was going to kindergarten all over again, and not my junior year of college.
After three back to back classes, my head was pounding. I ate a small
snack while I walked in the sweltering heat towards the union. Ahead
in the distance, I noticed a "Blood Bank" trailer. I immediately thought
"cool inside.. A/C..let's give blood." I signed my life away at that moment
or at least a few pints of it, and I walked inside. The nicest Hispanic lady
you'll ever meet handed me juice and cookies as I waited. A few minutes
later, another lady called my name and asked to see my ID. She then
looked up from her computer screen and said in the sweetest yet rudest
voice, "Ma'am You Don't Look Very Well, Are You Okay?" Confused, I
replied that I had a slight headache; but that was all. She stood up, and she
immediately shooed me out of the door insisting that I come back
when i felt 100%.
Kind of disappointed, I then walked inside the union. It was as crowded
as the mall near Christmas time. Again, so many unfamiliar faces.
I recognized NO ONE. Frustrated and alone, at this point I found a seat
in the basement of the union sitting next to a bunch of other people who
looked just as lost as I did. I wanted to leave. I wanted to drive
30 minutes all the way back home, (missing my last two classes) but i didn't
have my car. I sat there for over an hour. Holding back tears, I texted my bf
and my dad, and as always they provided me with words of encouragement.
They told me to be strong, and to basically suck it up.
I said a quick prayer (for the 38th time that day) and quickly found my
fourth class. Social Stratification was a breeze. This nice old Cuban professor,
with his thick accent let us out way early. Yes! Four classes down one to go.
I could make it. My last class on Tuesday was Personality Psychology. It
lasted from 4:40 pm until EXACTLY 7:30 pm. It was the first day of school
and this lady was serious about keeping us until the very last minute.
Nonetheless she was nice, and she made the class fun.
7:30 took FOREVER to come. At 7:31 my mom called. Thank God in Heaven.
She was already outside waiting to pick me up. I observed my surroundings,
walked a few blocks in the dark to where she was, and we headed home.
I had never been so happy to see her and my car. We made that once hectic
drive back home to Chandler in only 15 minutes.
There wasn't a soul hardly on the free way.
I had never felt so worn out, tired, and drained in my entire life. I felt sick.
I desperately needed sleep, a shower, and REAL food.
I eventually got all of the above.
If I didn't learn anything else my first day at ASU, I definitely learned
that the emergency lane on the express way is intended for extreme
emergencies ONLY (and punctuality on my first day was EXTREME).
I am so sorry you hated your first day. But, honestly, I'm not just saying this to be nice, I honestly think it will get better once you figure out what time you should leave the house, etc. I'm proud you took that emergency lane! You gotta do what you gotta do.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line had to be the blow dryer, large man scenario. It's true...the blow dryer in the face is miserable, & it's my least favorite thing to do while gettng ready.
I have faith in you love:) Things will get better, for sure. & The fact your mama was there right on time to pick you up made me smile.
You have tell me how personality psychology is later on. It sounds interesting:)