Yellow Pad Conversations: The logic of my freshman year
GW-Washington-DC-School-Life in a triple-interning-MockTrial- First Impressions-Challenges-Second Impressions-Success-Lasting Impressions-Friends-Happiness-my freshman year at GW.
If learned any four maxims this year it is this…first impressions are everything and mean nothing… hindsight is 20/20 … campus snacks is not conducive to subsistence nor self esteem and coffee is not a healthy way to wash down caffeine pills.
I write this, lap top literally in lap, looking out on quite a different place then I was a few months ago. No longer will my morning run leave foot prints in the grass roots of the National Mall, my impressions will now be left on the sandy pacific coastlines of a place that I left nine months ago and somehow look at quite differently nine months later. Change-progress- reflection.
GW, the school in the heart of Washington and the place where I feel like I have left my heart, yet not in any ones hands but in the embrace of a city.
Freshman year a time of change, transition, challenge and growth. The year of tolerance and when everyone’s best excuse for everything was “hey, im only here for four years right?”. I don’t know, sometimes when I say that it worries me. Will I ever find that balance between school and social life? Is there enough time to plan the rest of my life and have fun too?
Balance, finding a medium between doing too much and not enough... it is key to doing anything in life, especially in college. Doing too much was a lesson paid for in High School and I guess something I need to work on for next year, but then again I always did love my Friday afternoon sunset walk home from work on Connecticut Avenue. Funny, sometimes, walking home from my job but before going to my night class and mock trial, I would adjust the straps, not of my Steve Madden black leather clubbing heels but of my Anne Klein dress shoes, it was then, in my suit, that I felt beautiful.
Beauty, something I saw in so many people and places this year, sometimes it would be easier to see it in people where it didn’t exist then see it in myself. Confidence, something I learned that can be brandished like a heart on a sleeve, but like a heart, can be shattered with deception, self esteem and stress…
…Pressure, I love it. I give it to myself like a child helping themselves to the free candy dish in the doctors office…and I learned that too much of it will very well land me in such a said metaphorical doctors office. Pressure-stress-grades. School was great. All-nighters taught me the extent/will power of the human body and how beautiful our campus looks at an 8am walk back to the dorms. Procrastination? For the first time, no. Just time, or a lack there of. Speaking of no time, I recommend the experience of interning and of course an experience in the wonderfully dramatic social psychological experiment that is mock trial. In fact, I feel that the people, experiences and lessons learned from my forensics experience at GW was an invaluable first impression for my freshman year.
First Impressions, the key to everything… that mean nothing. I can safely say with confidence that the first impression I had of almost every person I came to know this year was wrong. Beyond this, I can safely say that I failed to meet or fulfill the false perceptions many had of me this year as well, or at least I hope I failed to do so.
I did learn this, I am naïve when it comes to people. I walk into a room thinking people will like me, hey I like you guys! =) Who am I assume that people should get to know me first before passing judgments. Wrong. Naiveté. I took the time to understand, support and value people who, it turns out, I was totally wrong about. But like I always say, hey at least I just learned something about being a good judge of character. So for the record: blond girls can be smart, I’m not crazy I just want to make a difference, people change, people lie, and people wear masks and it is only until you realizes a mask is worn before you can truly perceive who that person is inside, good and bad.
People are just awesome. They are so fun. I have so many things to say to so many people. Certain individuals have been there through everything, made me smile when I thought I forgot how, gave me back massages cause they knew I loved them, talked to me in a southern accent to remind me of my mom, gave me their futon and toast and always laughed when I acted mentally retarded, held me when all I could do was cry and on one occasion helped me up when I had a graceful slip into a wall… thank you.
To _____ you are so fun. To _____ I have a school girl crush on you. To _____ I could fall in love with you. To _____ you are so amazing. To _____ you a one of my best friends (just put your name there or post which one you think you are) I think ill save the friends for a post or for in person. Speaking of talking to people, I regret not keeping in better touch with those back home and I regret the fact I don’t confront people who are mean to me. Ehh lesson learned-hind sight is 20/20 right?
Speaking of confrontation, Neutrality was a skill much appreciated in living in a triple with two amazing girls. I was blessed for the most part with truly great people who were there for me during one of the hardest times I have ever faced in these nineteen years. And I just had people around who delt with me and my anna-kate’isms and for this I thank you.
A lot happened this year. I was less homesick then I anticipated, I love my family even more if that’s possible. I love dressing up like a school girl and apparently guys like it to. People can stop breathing when they drink to much, I didn’t drink enough. Cheezy bread is not a comfort food and massages from Elizabeth arden are orgasmic. Love your friends, hate their habits. Periods of my life are wrapped up in the songs I liked at that particular time. Music is a way to fall asleep at night. Coldplay is good background music listen to when watching someone practice an opening statement. Coldplay is just good. One of the best ways to meet people is to have them hate you first. Trust is important, and given/believed with caution. My friends back home changed, I changed even more. I have crushes, I like being every ones friend and I want to and want to be loved. I love soccer and I miss it. I like life. Life is good, friends are good and its summer.
So whats the logic in all of this…Love life, love. Laugh hard, smile often and enjoy every sunrise, for a sunrise is a new beginning. New beginning are great, old shoes are a comfort and old friends are just comfortable. Take chances, plan for the future but don’t live in it. If you are afraid of something, try it. Speak your mind, sing with your heart, and appreciate the beauty in everything. Song lyrics can define life, life cannot be defined. Life changes, people change and this is why life is interesting. Do things that interest you and not just the admissions reps at Harvard. Harvard isn’t everything…the LSAT will define my existence. John Stossel of 20/20 is a tool and we do have a global warming problem. The solution to every political problem is not to feed the homeless and running into walls is healthy, like a much needed release. Caffeine is great. Running is even better. Pink polos can be attractive on men too and ducks can kiss. Remember we are young and we have the rest of our lives to be grown ups. College. I don’t know what that means to you but make it mean something… ( feel free to comment, agree, disagree of just say hello)
If learned any four maxims this year it is this…first impressions are everything and mean nothing… hindsight is 20/20 … campus snacks is not conducive to subsistence nor self esteem and coffee is not a healthy way to wash down caffeine pills.
I write this, lap top literally in lap, looking out on quite a different place then I was a few months ago. No longer will my morning run leave foot prints in the grass roots of the National Mall, my impressions will now be left on the sandy pacific coastlines of a place that I left nine months ago and somehow look at quite differently nine months later. Change-progress- reflection.
GW, the school in the heart of Washington and the place where I feel like I have left my heart, yet not in any ones hands but in the embrace of a city.
Freshman year a time of change, transition, challenge and growth. The year of tolerance and when everyone’s best excuse for everything was “hey, im only here for four years right?”. I don’t know, sometimes when I say that it worries me. Will I ever find that balance between school and social life? Is there enough time to plan the rest of my life and have fun too?
Balance, finding a medium between doing too much and not enough... it is key to doing anything in life, especially in college. Doing too much was a lesson paid for in High School and I guess something I need to work on for next year, but then again I always did love my Friday afternoon sunset walk home from work on Connecticut Avenue. Funny, sometimes, walking home from my job but before going to my night class and mock trial, I would adjust the straps, not of my Steve Madden black leather clubbing heels but of my Anne Klein dress shoes, it was then, in my suit, that I felt beautiful.
Beauty, something I saw in so many people and places this year, sometimes it would be easier to see it in people where it didn’t exist then see it in myself. Confidence, something I learned that can be brandished like a heart on a sleeve, but like a heart, can be shattered with deception, self esteem and stress…
…Pressure, I love it. I give it to myself like a child helping themselves to the free candy dish in the doctors office…and I learned that too much of it will very well land me in such a said metaphorical doctors office. Pressure-stress-grades. School was great. All-nighters taught me the extent/will power of the human body and how beautiful our campus looks at an 8am walk back to the dorms. Procrastination? For the first time, no. Just time, or a lack there of. Speaking of no time, I recommend the experience of interning and of course an experience in the wonderfully dramatic social psychological experiment that is mock trial. In fact, I feel that the people, experiences and lessons learned from my forensics experience at GW was an invaluable first impression for my freshman year.
First Impressions, the key to everything… that mean nothing. I can safely say with confidence that the first impression I had of almost every person I came to know this year was wrong. Beyond this, I can safely say that I failed to meet or fulfill the false perceptions many had of me this year as well, or at least I hope I failed to do so.
I did learn this, I am naïve when it comes to people. I walk into a room thinking people will like me, hey I like you guys! =) Who am I assume that people should get to know me first before passing judgments. Wrong. Naiveté. I took the time to understand, support and value people who, it turns out, I was totally wrong about. But like I always say, hey at least I just learned something about being a good judge of character. So for the record: blond girls can be smart, I’m not crazy I just want to make a difference, people change, people lie, and people wear masks and it is only until you realizes a mask is worn before you can truly perceive who that person is inside, good and bad.
People are just awesome. They are so fun. I have so many things to say to so many people. Certain individuals have been there through everything, made me smile when I thought I forgot how, gave me back massages cause they knew I loved them, talked to me in a southern accent to remind me of my mom, gave me their futon and toast and always laughed when I acted mentally retarded, held me when all I could do was cry and on one occasion helped me up when I had a graceful slip into a wall… thank you.
To _____ you are so fun. To _____ I have a school girl crush on you. To _____ I could fall in love with you. To _____ you are so amazing. To _____ you a one of my best friends (just put your name there or post which one you think you are) I think ill save the friends for a post or for in person. Speaking of talking to people, I regret not keeping in better touch with those back home and I regret the fact I don’t confront people who are mean to me. Ehh lesson learned-hind sight is 20/20 right?
Speaking of confrontation, Neutrality was a skill much appreciated in living in a triple with two amazing girls. I was blessed for the most part with truly great people who were there for me during one of the hardest times I have ever faced in these nineteen years. And I just had people around who delt with me and my anna-kate’isms and for this I thank you.
A lot happened this year. I was less homesick then I anticipated, I love my family even more if that’s possible. I love dressing up like a school girl and apparently guys like it to. People can stop breathing when they drink to much, I didn’t drink enough. Cheezy bread is not a comfort food and massages from Elizabeth arden are orgasmic. Love your friends, hate their habits. Periods of my life are wrapped up in the songs I liked at that particular time. Music is a way to fall asleep at night. Coldplay is good background music listen to when watching someone practice an opening statement. Coldplay is just good. One of the best ways to meet people is to have them hate you first. Trust is important, and given/believed with caution. My friends back home changed, I changed even more. I have crushes, I like being every ones friend and I want to and want to be loved. I love soccer and I miss it. I like life. Life is good, friends are good and its summer.
So whats the logic in all of this…Love life, love. Laugh hard, smile often and enjoy every sunrise, for a sunrise is a new beginning. New beginning are great, old shoes are a comfort and old friends are just comfortable. Take chances, plan for the future but don’t live in it. If you are afraid of something, try it. Speak your mind, sing with your heart, and appreciate the beauty in everything. Song lyrics can define life, life cannot be defined. Life changes, people change and this is why life is interesting. Do things that interest you and not just the admissions reps at Harvard. Harvard isn’t everything…the LSAT will define my existence. John Stossel of 20/20 is a tool and we do have a global warming problem. The solution to every political problem is not to feed the homeless and running into walls is healthy, like a much needed release. Caffeine is great. Running is even better. Pink polos can be attractive on men too and ducks can kiss. Remember we are young and we have the rest of our lives to be grown ups. College. I don’t know what that means to you but make it mean something… ( feel free to comment, agree, disagree of just say hello)