It's just like me to compare my life to a meme, but I think the sentiment involved in this internet-popularized image is one of truth. With your freshman year of college, you're just trying to get adjusted to your college, classes, and dorms. But with your sophomore year, you start thinking to yourself, "what am I doing with my life?"
This was at least the case for me. My sophomore year was a bit different then a lot of people I know because I transferred to another school entirely. A school that was about 20x bigger than my previous one, with a much different campus aesthetic. My previous school (Ashland University) was a private, Christian school with just over 2,000 students. My current school (The Ohio State University) is the biggest school in the state, with over 50,000 undergraduates and any kind of person you could ever imagine meeting. Much more crime, drinking, and tailgating happens at OSU. It was a lot to get used to, considering my hometown was just as small as the town in which my first college was located. So, basically, my sophomore year was a year of adjustment and exploration.
To say the year started off rough would be a gross understatement. I missed my Ashland friends, the people in my dorm always kept their doors shut, and my classes were huge. I almost left after that first week. I was this (*holds thumb and index finger close together*) close. What kept me there?
These (awesome) people, pretty much. Thank God for them.
After I got the hang of things, OSU and I became the best of friends. I got a job, made new friends, became better acquainted with Columbus. And ever since then, things have been good. Sure, the year has had some ups and downs, but I wouldn't wanna be anywhere else.
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| I feel like you're not a true OSU student until you take a photo like this. |
This was my year of soul-searching, learning, and Foster the People concerts. This post is dedicated to my second year of college. Here it goes.
First off, I'd like to say that I've grown a lot as a person and a student during these past nine months. I've learned a lot. Such as:
1. OSU is fucking huge
1,764 acres to be exact. (Yup. Totally just wikipedia-ed that shit.) It took me a loooong time to get adjusted to it's size. But if there is one thing I've learned, a big school will keep getting smaller and smaller as you become accustomed to it. But a small school will never get any bigger.
2. Living in a single sucks.
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| My room was very nice, though. |
Well, at least it does if you like to socialize with other people. Every door on my floor stayed constantly closed. I don't even have proof that other people lived on my floor actually. Take a tip from me, friends. Always opt for a roommate. You might not become best friends, but it's a whole hell of a lot better than being lonely. Especially at the beginning of the year.
3. There are pros and cons to big classes.
Pro: you can skip a lot. Con: don't expect much individual attention.
4. You will hear a lot of dubstep.
I don't know why, but OSU seems like the dubstep capital of the world. Never before have I heard so many basses dropped. I even saw Skrillex for free. Only at OSU, kids. Only at OSU.
5. Public Transportation < Walking
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| Since most of my friends lived on South Campus, I made this bus my bitch. |
Okay, so since I am from a small, dinky town originally, I was new to buses. If I've learned one thing, is that you cannot trust buses. They can arrive late, early, or just not show up at all. You're better off just walking. But if you're a lazy sod like me, you'll still use them anyway.
6. You gotta know when to have fun...
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| Oh, this night. |
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| I wasn't actually reading, lolz. |
I haven't made some of the greatest choices in the past year, but it is these bad choices that made me learn what the right ones are.
9. Some people just aren't meant to stay in your life forever.
Since I left my old school, it was to be expected that I didn't stay close with some of my old friends. It hurts, but then I realized that it is unavoidable. I also came to the realization that you just have to appreciate the time I did have with my old friends.
and, consequently,
10. Some people will be your friends no matter what.
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| I love these people. |
Sure, I lost a few friends from Ashland, but I also stayed close with a special few too! It made feel so loved when my old friends would make the visit down to Columbus to see me. It just made me realize that there is no use mourning the friendships I have lost, because I still have great friends that put effort into maintaining a relationship with me. And that is a beautiful thing.
Alright. Time to move on from the mushy stuff. On to another important subject: music.
This year would not have been the same without these lovely songs:
Anything by Foster the People, but especially "Pumped Up Kicks"
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| He's coming for YOU. |
Jay-Z & Kanye West - "Niggas in Paris"
I loved this song until they played it constantly at work.
Gotye featuring Kimbra - "Somebody That I Used to Know"
Listened to this about 459 times over spring break.
fun. - "We Are Young"
Who doesn't love this song? (or didn't before it was overplayed)
Lady Gaga - "Marry the Night"
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| Totally tried to learn this dance. |
Cults - "Go Outside"
This might as well have been the soundtrack to me starting at OSU, as I listened to it constantly at that time.
Martin Solveig & Dragonette - "Hello"
Same for this one.
Nicki Minaj - "Starships"
I'll never forget learning all the words to this song with my friend Ben.
All in all, I'd say that my sophomore year was a time of learning lessons, discovering myself, and Four Lokos.
OSU, you've provided many challenges, victories, and entertaining moments.
Who is ready for round three?!
Peace out, mon amis.
P.S. Sorry for going on Tumblr on you with all these gifs. But they add flair!
-tjms.
14 June 2012.
