Welllll, college.

Wellll I am officially a college student. Most of the time, it feels exactly the same as being a high school freshman because of the following things:
1. Half academic classes, half fun classes
2. Being unsure of what to do with school/major/etc
3. Not knowing who people are, wanting to talk to people, assuming people are too cool for me
4. Walking from building to building for class, walking to the cafeteria for lunch
5. Trying to figure out where shizz is at
6. Missing the friends I made prior to this change
7. Not having a curfew
8. Taking walks / naps at whatever time I choose mostly
9. Bus rides with Seth (except they're to walmart and CVS now)
10. Being alphabetically next to Seth. How does this happen?

Except for these things:
1. Teachers don't make groups for us nor assign us seats
2. Honors classes are 15-16 kids, not 30, and I don't see any intelligent but unmotivated slackers yet
3. You don't have to fight with the guidance department to change classes. It's just a form.
4. You can change major at any time. It's not likely to be FILLED.
5. You don't see the people in your major all the time, and especially not all in one place
6. Living here....with Seth!
7. My friends' non-proximity
8. I have a laptop, printer and IPod now all for myself
9. Job interviews
10. People play pool -_-
11. A football team. Legit. And cheerleaders. How new.

And did I mention my friends aren't here? Because as happy as I am, I do miss them. And even though I know I'll make friends here, it doesn't mean I want to leave my old ones behind, or that I want them to leave me behind. Luckily, some of my close friends have been keeping me up to date on their drama and daily goings-ons, but I must stress that TEXTING IS NECESSARY if you're not a phone call person. I mean legit, I do talk to people on the phone. I will, I have, done it for HOURS on end. You can ask several people who have proof. This week I had a phone call/Oovoo/Skype date with Desiree (different methods kept failing for unknown reasons). Texting is sufficient for keeping in touch until one has time for a call/visit, but I have to say, some form of technology is really needed. Mail me, goddammit. I have a mailbox and an address that I can give you if that's what it takes. Conversation is needed to keep friends with people. Not everyday, but I'm just saying, the top ways I kept Kris and Jess as friends for so many years are these:
- keeping up with each other and what the others are doing
- making sure people know you're there for them
- randomly telling people you miss them. Believe me, it helps a lot.
- reminding people they're your close/best friend because it might not FEEL that way from miles away
- making plans several times a year for real-life catch-ups
- complaining about your new situation to old friends...don't feel like you have to make your life seem glamourous and like you've made a ton of better friends. In fact, that works about the opposite of the effect you probably intend. Just be honest, and in fact, if you complain, your friends will probably feel much more comfortable knowing NOBODY feels right at home when things first change

I guess I just didn't realize how much I would love Bristol Aggie when I arrived, or how much I'd love my friends. That's how I'm trying to think of college. It's so new, and I've met a lot of people, and in time I hope I'll feel the exact same way. I walked into high school every day with a smile, no matter what was going on in my personal life, something about it made me feel better, after awhile. In high school, there were 4 different people I considered my best friend at one time, and some of them still are. In every single case, I started feeling the closest to the person while going through something hard, working with drama, helping each other out, or venting. Sooo, all I can say is college, bring on the drama. I mean that in the best way possible. I've found I can discover how real friends are supposed to treat you and I've learned to really stick up for myself in the last 4 years. So, I'm ready for the challenges to come. I feel like Holly J, hoping my new friends will be even HALF as good as the ones I have now.

In a way, it's a little strange to be meeting people who don't know Seth and I are dating. And weird to be without people who make stupid jokes and push each other around and cause a ruckus at lunch and hide from teachers with me and pass obnoxious notes and laugh at each other. In high school, all my friends and even extended friends loved us together, they all wanted to be a part of the wedding, they asked me sex questions, they cheered when we kissed. It's not that I miss the attention, but I do miss knowing I have friends who won't feel awkward in any way. I don't know how to make friends coming into it with, "And this is my roommate, my best friend, and we're dating, but we're awesome, so just pretend it's not a bizarre situation."

I'm not kidding when I say my friends could come and visit, though. If anyone were to want to come here, or when I get a car, have me meet them and pick them up somewhere, I would let them sleep in our dorm room. Seth feels the same way. We actually have enough room for a good sleepover, we have an extra bed we don't use and a LOT of floor space. We have some blankets in case of a sleepover but we would also want people to bring them for their own comfort.

I wonder if people in college have sleepovers in their dorms with other residents?