Beating the Sophomore Slump: Second Year of College

There's a meme floating around the interwebz called "Soul-Searching Sophomore", featuring a confused looking young man that features such captions as "I'd introduce myself if I knew who I was". 

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. 

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.

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

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...

Oh, this night.

7. ...and when to focus.

I wasn't actually reading, lolz.

8. Making mistakes is a part of life.

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. 

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"

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"

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. 

3 AM Philosophical Thinking

Why do things happen? Do they truly happen for a reason? Is it true that even the shittiest of situations have some sort of cosmic purpose? Is the fact that my camera broke a funny commentary on how I should stop and smell the roses rather than just snap a quick picture of them? Or was it simply a drunken mistake that will forever be hidden away in the abyss of alcohol-aided forgotten memories? This very question has been plaguing me for days. If everything happens for a reason, then why do good people die while evil people live to ripe old ages? Why did my dog Casey have to die when I was 8 years old? Was there a purpose in that my little head couldn't fathom? Or was it just simply because I happened to let him out right as a teenager in a red car sped by on his way to work? Earlier this week, I was laying on my bed thinking of all this and decided that everything doesn't have a reason. That everything happens out of pure coincidence and that humans only say it has a purpose out of fear of the unknown. We don't want to think that everything in the world just happens- we like to think that eventually things will work out in our favor, even if the destination is different than what we initially thought it would be. We also want to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Whether you believe in a god, or some other spiritual being, it really makes no difference. Humans just what to believe that the bad things that happen to them happen because a force greater than themselves is merging them onto the right path- their "destiny". So, basically, we say everything happens for a reason just to make ourselves feel better. But then, things keep happening this week that make me wonder if everything does happen for a reason. I would make a slight change in my plans, and something I didn't expect would happen. For example, my friend and I spontaneously decided to walk through the Oval the other day and I ended up seeing one of my friends that I hadn't seen in months. A small occurrence, but enjoyable nonetheless. Also, a few months ago, I was planning on switching jobs but then got sad news that my help was no longer needed. Although that hurt at the time, I don't harbor ill feelings, for I have met two good friends this quarter at my job, and chances are that I would not have met them other wise. Also, I was this close to not coming to OSU this year.  And it is because I did that I met some of the greatest people in my life, and had some of the best moments if my life so far. Is this all a fluke? Are our lives nothing but coincidence after coincidence? No one knows. But maybe it is possible that things always work out the way they are supposed to.

2011 in Retrospect

I've been wanting to blog for a really long time now, and I've finally stopped dicking around and decided to make a new post. I've been feeling quite reminiscent recently. It has been 2012 for over two weeks, but I still want to dedicate this post to 2011. It was an epic year, full of crazy experiences. It was the best year of my life.

Here's why:

I became an aunt for the second time! 

I transferred

In 2011, I decided that I no longer wished to go to Ashland University and decided to transfer to the Ohio State University. I miss my Ashland friends dearly, but transferring was the best decision I could have ever made. I've never felt so content with my life as I have here. I no longer feel like I'm missing out on something. And that means more than you can ever imagine.

I got my first real job

Sure, I work at a sub par campus dining establishment, but money is money.

I went to some kickass concerts

                              

Artists and bands I saw live:

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Twin Shadow

Crystal Castles

The Joy Formidable

Colbie Caillat

Jason Derulo

Matt Nathanson

Taio Cruz

Foster the People

Pitbull

Hot Chelle Rae 

Lady Gaga

...and I hope to see a shit ton more this year!

First Experiences

First flight, first baseball game, first time to Lake Erie, first time trying steak...the list goes on and on. I gained a lot of new experiences in 2011. I feel so accomplished.

   

 I got to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt in person!

To anyone who is not aware, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is pretty much my dream man. He's beautiful. I about died when I saw him in person this past November. I screamed like those girls who saw The Beatles when they first came out. And I have no shame.

I became friends with some great people

This year wouldn't have been what it was if it hadn't been for my friends. Whether they were from Ashland, Ohio State, or somewhere else, this year was filled with awesome people. It's hard to think that a year ago, I didn't even know some of the people who I now consider to be some of my best friends. It amazes me.

I went to New York City!

If I had to pick one highlight from 2011, it would actually be the last week of it. I was lucky enough to be able to spend Christmas and New Years in New York. It was my first time in the Big Apple, and I loved it so much. Times Square, Fifth Avenue, Central Park...there's just so many wonderful things there. I even got to experience Times Square on New Year's eve, which I would have never imagined that I'd get to do. I can't wait to go back. Because, basically, Ohio sucks miserably in comparison.

So yeah, 2011 basically just kicked all kinds of ass.

2012, you have a lot to live up to.

-tjms

18 January 2012

Summer: A Retrospective

Okay, so I'm just here shamelessly listening to Lizzie McGuire-era Hilary Duff (she reminds me of my childhood, alright?) after a two-hour long figuring-stuff-out session for the next school year, and I've been thinking to myself "Shit, man. I haven't blogged in a while." No time like the present (12:34 AM on Labor Day), so here we go.

Summer is winding down. If I had decided to return to Ashland, school would've started almost 2 weeks ago. I'm still at home, waking up whenever the hell I want to and generally being a lazy bum. By the time I'm actually in school and going to classes, working, and participating in whatever I decide to particapte in, the life I'm living now will sound like paradise. But right now, I gotta tell ya, I'm itching to get back to school. Structure is good.

I had made a previous post in April detailing my hopes and plans for the summer, which at that point, seemed like a beautiful dream just a bit out of my grasp. For this post, I'd like to go back to that post and see if I accomplished all I wanted to accomplish, as well as offer a few other details about my summer, which has been pretty dang kick-ass.

(First off, I said that I planned on getting a job. Yeah, that didn't work out so well. Let's cross our fingers for next summer!)

1. Go to concerts

I did go see Crystal Castles in August with my sister, which was so fun. They are crazy live. The whole thing was like a rave. Loud electronic beats, colorful strobe lights, and glow sticks made it feel like a huge dance party. And dance I did. I'd definitely see them again.


2. Grow my hair out

Beginning of summer...

End of summer!

I didn't cut my hair all summer! I AM VICTORIOUS!!!!

3. Exercise every day

Ha. Ahaha. Hahahahaha. Yeah... I did not do this.

4. Swim

I did do this! And swimming is exercise, right? *hopeful expression*  

5. Read

I read like 2.5 books. I fail.

6. Visit Ashland friends

I had the pleasure of seeing many of my Ashland friends this summer, and all experiences were quite fantastic.

Posing in Meredith's kitchen

First Indians game! Woot!

 

Enjoying the most foodgasmic brownies EVER, courtesy of Liz's mom



7. Catch up on music intake.

Most definitely did this! My ears are very happy.

8. Watch (500) Days of Summer.

I think I did this like the day after I got home from school.

9. Spend as much time with my niece and nephew as possible

:D

It makes my heart happy that I've got to see them both a whole bunch this summer. They're growing so fast, and I feel priviledged to get to spend time with two such cute, wonderful kids.

10. Do some soul-searching

This is an ongoing process, of course, but I fell like I've made progress this summer. I've gotten a lot of things sorted out, and I feel very happy and excited about the path I am walking on.

ALSO. Let me share a few things that made Summer '11 what it was:

Foster the People- "Pumped Up Kicks"

                                     

If I had a dollar for every time I listened to this song this summer, my students loans would be paid off. Seriously. And I'm still obsessed with it. I'm listening to it right now, in fact.

Runner-Up: "Super Bass" by Nicki Minaj

Bridesmaids

This movie was so hilarious. Melissa McCarthy made this movie, I tell ya. She's come a long way from being Lorelai Gilmore's sidekick. (Although I still see Sookie whenever I look at her).

The '90s are All-That on Teen Nick

Who woulda thunk that in 2011, I'd be able to watch Doug and Kenan & Kel? Whoever thought of this idea, I sincerely love you.

Columbus, Ohio

My future home and the capital of Ohio gave me some memorable times this summer. Whether in a good way (Crystal Castles @ Newport) or in an effing awful way (being towed and having to walk into the ghetto in order to retrieve my vehicle), or in a fashionable way (just got my first pair of Ray-Bans at Rag-O-Rama, hellz yeah!). Oh Columbus, I can't wait to be able to see more of what you have to offer. (By bus, of course, I don't trust Columbus parking any longer.)

Friends & Family

Not to be mushy, but what can I say? The best part about this summer was having awesome people to share it with.

Salutations, summer of 2011!

-tjms

5 September 2011