Well, hello...

This is my first post in what is supposed to be a semester-long documentation of my transition to college. Hopefully this will go well! ANYWAY: To answer the prompt of what my expectations are for my time here at USC, I would say that they are probably similar to everyone else: to get a good education while making friends to last for the rest of my life. I also hope to expand my horizons beyond what I am already familiar and comfortable with and to partake in things I never would have in high school. It is a great wish of mine to become more outgoing and not to be intimidated by meeting new people (so far, I have not accomplished this, making college seem very much like my time in high school for the time being...).

So far I would say that my time at USC has been uneventful compared to that of some of the other freshmen I have met, but it is also only the third week here, so I am not too disappointed. I am not one to go partying, and I am super cautious when it comes to getting into situations that could affect me for the rest of my life (ie: going to a party with underage drinking where the cops come and bust everyone and arrest them and ruin their records forever... stuff like that, which everyone seems to be so eager to do). My greatest adventure was a midnight trip to IHOP with my roommate (Monica!) and three other kids. I know what you are thinking: she is so adventurous! ... I know, I know.

The most unexpected thing so far... THE HUGE BUGS! In Pennsylvania we have bugs, but not like this. I had never seen a cockroach in person before my move to South Carolina, and now those shiny, crunchy bugs are everywhere (alive and squished). Also the beetles and locusts. This is not OK with me. I suppose I just have to deal with it, though, since I'm pretty sure the bugs were here before I was and are here for the long term.

In all seriousness, though, I haven't really encountered anything yet that I would classify as a huge 'surprise' or as 'unexpected'. I've heard Southern people are friendly, but not everyone I've met has been super friendly (probably not Southerners, though, right?). Maybe I am surprised by the fact that my work load has not been overwhelming and my studying habits from high school have not failed me (yet). I have been performing well in classes and on the few quizzes and assignments I have had graded so far. So, in this case, I am surprised that I am not struggling too much.

That is all for now, I guess!

Holland

Capstone!
(This is actually from orientation in June.)