Off Campus Friends...

Getting attacked by Shrillz

...are the best people ever. They really are. As a junior living on campus, especially as an RA, it can be difficult to remember what it's like to talk to people that aren't forced to interact with me for work/caretaking reasons. It's also nice to be completely unfiltered, without having to worry about my job or being a role model (if that's even a thing).

Chris and I hanging out at his place

They also give me a lot of perspective. I can see the different things that they are doing with their lives: being in a band, student teaching in Texas, dating, doing dishes, and all sorts of other crazy things. It's weird though, I am rarely jealous of their lives (although I am so incredibly proud of each and every one of them). While I would love to light a candle every once and a while or blast music loudly, I wouldn't trade what I have for anything (as cheesy as that sounds).

My off-campus friends are supportive as all hell, and I could not love them more if I tried. Thanks for being around guys (especially because I feel like most of you are reading this)!

Birthday Extravaganza Weekend

This weekend was Danielle's, Maddie's, and my Birthday Extravaganza. Every year, the weekend before the weekend before exams, we celebrate all of our birthdays together and give each other presents (since all of our birthdays are after college lets out). Maddie had me for our gift exchange, so she gave me a spoon necklace and all of this really awesome friendship bracelet string. Look at all of those colors, the possibilities are endless.

A while ago, my old roommate Lauren and I got into a huge fight and she ended up moving out of my room. I hadn't seen her since, which was kind of heartbreaking since she was one of my best friends.

 A week ago, she contacted me and asked me to hang out. I had some qualms about it, but decided to hang out with her anyway. I had already lost her as a friend, so what else did I have to lose? As weird as it is, things between us weren't weird at all. We went to our school's cafeteria and hung out for an hour, talking Fall Out Boy (which is cool because none of my other friends really understand them like Lauren does) and life over Chinese food. It was super fun, and we are probably going to hang out again soon, which I am really excited about.

Who says that second chances don't work? Definitely not me.

 

Lauren and I last year.

In-Class Friends

I don't know about you, but as I have mentioned millions of times throughout this blog, my classes are pretty painful this semester. However, something that I have noticed about the classes that I do like is that I usually have a few "in-class friends". These people, while not part of my inner circle of friends that I hang out with on a consistent basis, are always really fun, and definitely make my classes worth going to. In college, it is easier than ever to make friends. Every class is full of new people with varying interests and personalities.

Some of my best friends get confused as to how I talk to so many people in my classes. Here are a few ways to start the first conversations.

• Ask for notes, a pen, note cards, etc.- If this isn't done incessantly, it can actually strengthen a relationship which might not have been there previously. According to some study that I read a while ago, relationships are strengthened when someone asks someone else for a favor.
• Compliment them- Who doesn't like being complimented? It gives me a positive opinion on a person if they say something nice about me. 
• O3- Ostracization of Other- This way is will may not be the nicest, and can often backfire. This method basically consists of insulting either someone else in your class or the professor. Gossip bonds people together, especially if the other two methods have failed. If this is a little too harsh for you, you can reverse it by instead saying something nice about a third party.  
  

Having in-class friends, besides making classes a lot more interesting, can also be really useful. If you happen to be feeling under the weather, an in-class friend can be the easiest way to catch up. It's also fun if they are part of your major. None of my best friends are as into literature as me, but a lot of my in-class friends are.

You Don't Know What You've Got 'Till It's Gone

After retrieving my wallet from a rather seedy location this morning, I took a moment to be thankful the fact that no one stole anything out of it. My school ID, driver's license, debit card, Panera gift card (because who doesn't love Panera?), and a single crinkly dollar were all exactly where I had left them.

Thankfully.

I can't say that I have ever taken time out of my day to appreciate my wallet. But at that moment, it was one of the most important things in my life, as crazy as that sounds. We never seem to take the time to feel grateful for things until they are gone. Because I think that is kind of sad, I am now taking the time to compose a list of the things that I have that I don't usually think about. (Disclaimer: I am sorry if you don't have some of these things. If this is the case, think of other things that you have, but take for granted).

1. The ability to breathe through my nose- If you aren't sick, take a moment to breathe through your nose. Remember how amazing this feels when you have a cold.

2. My senses- The fact that I can see, hear, taste, touch, and smell is fantastic. The Ultra Music Festival live stream that is playing in the background as I type this, the dim lighting from the melty-crayon lamp in my dorm room, the stale dorm air, and the tea that I am currently drinking; none of this would be possible without senses.

3. All of my friends- Self-explanatory. I love them to death, but I definitely take them for granted at times.



So take a moment, right now, and think about everything that you have. It will make your day a million times more fantastic, I promise you.

Home Sweet Homes

As much as I love visiting my family, I am super excited to finally return back to my school and friends. I want to say that I am going "home", but, with all of the moves that I go through, I can never really place where that is. Is it possible to have multiple homes?

For the past two years (aka since I've started college), I haven't stayed in one place for longer than two months. At camp last summer, I moved cabins once or twice a week, and then after camp, it's school to my hometown and back again over and over. And I love it, I really do. It's taught me a lot of things like proper packing skills, long distance communication, living in the moment, and to rid myself of things that I don't need (I have a little trouble sticking with that last one). The idea of home has been screwed up for these past two years, since I can never pick one solid location.

However, the cliche still remains true I guess, home is where your family is. Here are a few of my families.

 (My camp family performing one of our favorite skits)

 (My college family after attending Day-Glow)

(My extended "biological" family on one of our annual vacations to the ocean)

"We were part of something ours and ours alone,

anywhere was home, we're almost here again"- The Academy Is...

Sitting Al-own

     Due to the fact that my usual breakfast buddy, Derek, (aka Maddie's boyfriend and one of my best friends) decided to sleep in late, I headed towards my school's cafeteria alone.

     Many of you just read that and completely judged my life. Honestly, I would have too.

     However, there comes a time in everyone's life where they are forced to do things alone. Maybe it's going that poetry reading that all of your friends thought was stupid. Maybe it's walking home alone from the clubs because you realize for the billionth time that you can never find a respectable guy/girl/etc. in the dark. Or maybe it's because all of your friends happen to be busy and there is nothing edible in your dorm room.

     While I have a lot of friends, there are  still many times in my life where I do things alone (All of the above situations were pulled from my own experiences, gotta find my material somewhere). Literally, every single one of my friends has a significant other at this point, and there are times when I am simply not in the mood to third wheel it yet again. At first, I thought that this meant that I was doomed to be a social outcast, but then I realized; sometimes it's actually more fun to do things alone.

Here are some ways that you can be al-OWN (cheesy, I know)

• Bring a book. As an English education major, reading is one of my favorite things to do, and one of my favorite loner activities.

• Peoplewatching- Because judging the lives of others is a lot more enjoyable by yourself.
• (Also, this is a fantastic time to check out good looking members of the gender that you're attracted to...)
• Catch up on someone new music. Being that anti-social kid with the chunky headphones. Use that computer. Do some homework. Most technology doubles as loner-buffer equipment. Especially if you're checking out my blog.
• Get hit on. Like I said a bullet point or two ago, you're much less intimidating by yourself. That good-looking individual who has had their eye on you now has the perfect opportunity to make their move.
• Think deep life thoughts. You could be the next Socrates. Or invent something crazy. Or write a story. Or think some questionable thoughts about the aforementioned peoplewatchees.
• Walk with your head up high (especially at night, looking down signals to predators that you're an easy target since you aren't paying attention. Looking down also signifies low self-esteem, (another perk for predators).
• Plan evenings/days with yourself. I live with four other girls, and am constantly surrounded by other people. As much as I love them all, I don't know what I would do without my loner runs/tv marathons/blogging sessions/ book readings. If you enjoy hanging out with yourself, others will too.

...And if you didn't bring a friend, but still want to be social

• Sit next to someone else who is alone. Instant friend. Being alone is the best time to make friends, since people are less intimidated by one person they don't know than a whole group of people. This works especially well when walking alone at night, since walking home alone at night as a female is even more dangerous, it's a nice excuse to grab a walking buddy (sexism at its finest, but it's the truth).
• See if you can find anyone else that you know in the area. A lot of times, you'll see that random girl from you communications/education/etc. class, and you can hang out with them.
• Call someone. I always call my parents or my Oma when walking home from work, which they really seem to appreciate. It makes them feel special, and it gives you someone to talk to so that you don't feel so alone.

When I was looking through Google Images for a picture of a loner, I mostly saw black and white photos that were massively depressing. 

This picture is awesome because 

• It's in color
• It has nice nature imagery (especially fun when everything here is grey)
• The little boy in the green looks like a total rebel, if you don't think about the picture for too long.

Basically, own being alone. 

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