In Words and Pictures... my first year at Duke
What a year. I don't even know how to begin to describe it. I've had a new array of experiences... some good, some bad. Life has definitely changed. Depending on who you ask I've changed. I debate that sometimes... I feel like I've changed so much this year and at the same time I feel as though I've just allowed myself to discover who I am. I've become my own person. It hasn't been the easiest year for me... far from it. But I am happier now than ever. This is my life...
Last April brought the last of my college acceptance letters. *fun times* In the end I got accepted to my dream school as a kid... DUKE!!! A visit to campus for Blue Devil Days reminded me of why and how much I loved the university. I decided to attend and on August 22nd I moved in.
Heading off to college was fun... but it was hard because the week before my dad fell off of a roof onto a sidewalk. He didn't get out of the hospital until the day after I left for college. That was hard for me to deal with this year. I was in a disability studies class first semester... which was incredible but difficult when you actually stop and think about it's impact on your life. I don't like talking about it much... but one of the scariest moments that I've had is realizing that my dad may be Superman, but he's not invincible. It's tough... but okay in the end.
Duke was amazing from day one. My roomie was crazy but we got along well the entire year. The first few days of orientation I was still shy (I'm much more outgoing now!) so it was good to have such an outgoing roommate. lol... she made it easy to get to know people because I didn't have to initiate the conversations. Within the first few days of being at Duke I got my first taste of how my path was going in a much different direction than where it was going in the past. My last boyfriend and I didn't last very long once I had headed to Duke. I was having fun, meeting new people, and it just didn't work out. i think there was questioning of my fidelity... and I wasn't okay with that. I did not, however, find a new boyfriend in the first few weeks of school... though one guy tried. lol... I was faithful, and when it was over I wasn't actively searching for the next guy...
It didn't take him too long to enter my life, however.
Zach started talking to me more after my roomie and I "ditched" him on our way to a club. lol... it was HIS fault though! ;) Luckily he wasn't *too* upset with us and went out to get brunch with us the next morning. I like this guy. In fact... I think I'm going to keep him around for as long as he'll let me... he's put up with me for almost 8 months now. : )
Not only did I meet the love of my life at Duke, I made some pretty incredible (and smart and crazy and cool) friends...
Along with the friends... especially the 3rd floor guys... came the pranks. *shakes head*
...and HALO!!!!! :) ....until they started playing Smash. :(
...though Zach won a Smash tourney. :)
I got involved in Wesley... the U. Methodist campus group (though my attendance was less than stellar after I got sick 2nd semester. *bites lip*) They are some of the most incredible people ever!!!
And we had AMAZING LOST watching parties! : D
This year we went to D.C. (yes, my favorite city!) for the Walk for the Homeless. While we were there we stopped to take over the Capitol... or the steps at least. (p.s. Vote for me for Representative in the House... in a few years)
And while I love all my Dukie friends... I still love all my friends at home. This year me and my bestest guy friend Kyle have gotten closer than ever before... this makes me uber happy. :)
...not all changes are bad.
Duke wouldn't be Duke without the basketball!!!!
I tented this year... and it was pretty fun. (and cold). Cameron Indoor Stadium has quite the amazing atmosphere. And...
GO TO HELL CAROLINA, GO TO HELL!!!!!!
One must also not forget to support Duke lacrosse! These are some pretty amazing guys... both on the field and off the field.
Roomie, Zach, and I cheered them on during the season... (and they're still going... only a few games 'til the National Championship!)
This year has simply been amazing... despite the hard times. Despite all the issues that I had to get through... but I've moved on and it's good to have closure. *shrugs* As for how I've changed... you'd have to ask me... I'm more open now at least.
I'm happy. I'm living my dream.
To be honest... it's hard sometimes. Sometimes I don't feel confident. Sometimes I feel as though I'll never be able to really return home to rural SC. Sometimes I feel like there isn't anyone to talk to... that nobody really understands where I'm coming from and where I'm going.
But I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I love Duke. I love knowing where I came from.... though I may not be able to return, I'm closer to my past than I ever have been. Sometimes you have to leave, you have to change in order to really understand where you came from. I pity the people that I see who are too afraid to step out of their comfort zone to discover the world... their world.
But before I get too deep... DUKE JUST ROCKS MY SOCKS.
Afterall... roomie and I are living in a flippin' TOWER next year!!! :)
.... we're excited at least.
--AEB
Last April brought the last of my college acceptance letters. *fun times* In the end I got accepted to my dream school as a kid... DUKE!!! A visit to campus for Blue Devil Days reminded me of why and how much I loved the university. I decided to attend and on August 22nd I moved in.
Heading off to college was fun... but it was hard because the week before my dad fell off of a roof onto a sidewalk. He didn't get out of the hospital until the day after I left for college. That was hard for me to deal with this year. I was in a disability studies class first semester... which was incredible but difficult when you actually stop and think about it's impact on your life. I don't like talking about it much... but one of the scariest moments that I've had is realizing that my dad may be Superman, but he's not invincible. It's tough... but okay in the end.
Duke was amazing from day one. My roomie was crazy but we got along well the entire year. The first few days of orientation I was still shy (I'm much more outgoing now!) so it was good to have such an outgoing roommate. lol... she made it easy to get to know people because I didn't have to initiate the conversations. Within the first few days of being at Duke I got my first taste of how my path was going in a much different direction than where it was going in the past. My last boyfriend and I didn't last very long once I had headed to Duke. I was having fun, meeting new people, and it just didn't work out. i think there was questioning of my fidelity... and I wasn't okay with that. I did not, however, find a new boyfriend in the first few weeks of school... though one guy tried. lol... I was faithful, and when it was over I wasn't actively searching for the next guy...
It didn't take him too long to enter my life, however.
Zach started talking to me more after my roomie and I "ditched" him on our way to a club. lol... it was HIS fault though! ;) Luckily he wasn't *too* upset with us and went out to get brunch with us the next morning. I like this guy. In fact... I think I'm going to keep him around for as long as he'll let me... he's put up with me for almost 8 months now. : )
Not only did I meet the love of my life at Duke, I made some pretty incredible (and smart and crazy and cool) friends...
Along with the friends... especially the 3rd floor guys... came the pranks. *shakes head*
...and HALO!!!!! :) ....until they started playing Smash. :(
...though Zach won a Smash tourney. :)
I got involved in Wesley... the U. Methodist campus group (though my attendance was less than stellar after I got sick 2nd semester. *bites lip*) They are some of the most incredible people ever!!!
And we had AMAZING LOST watching parties! : D
This year we went to D.C. (yes, my favorite city!) for the Walk for the Homeless. While we were there we stopped to take over the Capitol... or the steps at least. (p.s. Vote for me for Representative in the House... in a few years)
And while I love all my Dukie friends... I still love all my friends at home. This year me and my bestest guy friend Kyle have gotten closer than ever before... this makes me uber happy. :)
...not all changes are bad.
Duke wouldn't be Duke without the basketball!!!!
I tented this year... and it was pretty fun. (and cold). Cameron Indoor Stadium has quite the amazing atmosphere. And...
GO TO HELL CAROLINA, GO TO HELL!!!!!!
One must also not forget to support Duke lacrosse! These are some pretty amazing guys... both on the field and off the field.
Roomie, Zach, and I cheered them on during the season... (and they're still going... only a few games 'til the National Championship!)
This year has simply been amazing... despite the hard times. Despite all the issues that I had to get through... but I've moved on and it's good to have closure. *shrugs* As for how I've changed... you'd have to ask me... I'm more open now at least.
I'm happy. I'm living my dream.
To be honest... it's hard sometimes. Sometimes I don't feel confident. Sometimes I feel as though I'll never be able to really return home to rural SC. Sometimes I feel like there isn't anyone to talk to... that nobody really understands where I'm coming from and where I'm going.
But I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I love Duke. I love knowing where I came from.... though I may not be able to return, I'm closer to my past than I ever have been. Sometimes you have to leave, you have to change in order to really understand where you came from. I pity the people that I see who are too afraid to step out of their comfort zone to discover the world... their world.
But before I get too deep... DUKE JUST ROCKS MY SOCKS.
Afterall... roomie and I are living in a flippin' TOWER next year!!! :)
.... we're excited at least.
--AEB