This week marks one month since I arrived at Sewanee. From the beautiful campus to the challenging classes, I’m assured that I had chosen the right school. The first month of college is full of opportunities to meet new people and get involved on campus. For me, it was also a month of getting lost, overeating, and staying up too late.
I comprised a list of things I felt like were the biggest changes from my life in high school to a student at Sewanee.
1. Dressing up for class
This was a completely new concept for me. In high school, I wore exercise clothes to school way more often than I’d like to admit. Here, students dress up for class to honor Sewanee tradition as well as to respect professors. I’m not even kidding when I say that I’ve dressed up more times so far than I had all 4 years of high school put together.
2. Unlimited dining is both a blessing and a curse
McClurg is basically an all you can eat buffet offering an abundance of food options to satisfy my food cravings. There are days that I eat way too often, and eat when I’m not even hungry. The best part? I can eat whatever I want. Cereal for dinner? Yes please.
3. Overestimating going to the gym
Fowler? Where even is that? I remember before arriving at Sewanee, my roommate and I planned to go to the gym together regularly, and to this day, we have yet gone together (whoops).
4. Having a sleep schedule
There are times where I am lucky enough to sleep at 10pm, other times where I’m rushing to finish my homework at 2am. Sleeping is so important, but sometimes it has to be compromised.
5. Saying hello to everyone
The passing hello is another Sewanee tradition that I have grown to love. It’s fun to say hi to people I know and people I get to know from walking past them every day. It also makes walking to 8am classes a little less dreadful.
6. Not asking to use the bathroom
When nature calls, get up and go. It’s college- it’s not necessary to ask. I learned that very quickly.
7. Making time for rest
A day of classes, sports practice, studying, clubs and organizations is undoubtedly a long one. I make sure that I take care of myself by resting at least half an hour a day and having “me” time where I can relax, watch netflix, shop online etc.
8. Finding time to do laundry
I live in a dorm with 50+ other people but only 3 washing machines and 2 dryers. It feels like the hunger games when I want to do laundry and having to run back to the laundry room before someone else moves my clothes.
9. Not being afraid to ask for help
Professors at Sewanee are so easily accessible. If I don’t know how to answer a problem or where to find an assignment, I can stop by their office without an appointment, send an email (and get a reply within an hour) or even call/ text them if I need help.
10. Squirrels are everywhere
Sewanee squirrels get so much attention. They are everywhere and they are hilarious. That is all.
All in all, I’m proud to call Sewanee home.