Monthly Observations
Although I learned a lot about myself and a variety of things last year, I didn’t have a spot to post my ideas, and this is a whole new year. So, with that in mind, it’s time for the top eight lessons from this year, even though it’s only been a month.
8. Change isn’t always a good thing. Although the new Dining Services does a lot of good things, the Starbucks…er, the 7th Street café is not one of them. The old 7th St. was quite possibly the best hangout on the campus. With an impressive arrangement of well-made drinks at slightly high but reasonable prices, 7th Street seating was at a premium on weekends due to the amount of people that attended.
My, how things change.
Although the quality is there, and some drinks still exist—enough to do a Monty Python routine about “Starbucks”—and their prices are amazing. The 7th Street workers will probably babble about how big government supported by CAFTA has killed their business, the reality is that the place is lacking. There is no reason for me to pay $2.60 for a small milkshake when I can go to the local Wendy’s for a frosty that is about twice the size. The spirit has gone out of 7th Street, the way it went out of the Yankees last year in the ALCS.
7. Just because you like something and are good at it doesn’t mean you love it. I thought I was a Computer Engineer last year. Although I had some doubts here and there, I thought it was just because I wasn’t into the curriculum enough. Actually, that was the reason I didn’t drop it last year.
Clue #1: I remarked to one of my relatives this past summer that I could probably take 8 years at Bucknell and miss out on some courses that I would’ve liked to have taken. Clue #2: I find myself more interested in Chemistry than Computer Science. As much as I can blame that on my solid background in high school, there’s something to be said about that: I don’t exactly like Chemistry. Clue #3: When my professor talked about the “horrific 6-hour labs,” I started thinking of The Jungle by Upton Sinclair—and myself. I can’t program for 15 minutes straight, let alone 6 hours. Clue #4: I play sports and can bench more than half my body weight (though not much more, unfortunately).
6. There’s always a flip side to everything. Although I’m living in Kress, the nicest dorm on campus by quality and location, and I have a good roommate, I don’t totally like the situation. Why?
Part of it comes from the fact that people don’t want to climb the hill (I do it when coming back from seeing you punks!), or so they say. Another part of it comes from the fact that my hall is more talkative than the cemetery across from Smith Hall. I guess that comes with the territory, though. Not complaining about basically falling out of bed into Chemistry lecture the second day of class, though…that was great! With that said, though…
5. Good friendships are to be developed, not just maintained. I have a lot of good friends here, but I feel like they lack the real energy and warmth that characterized them last year. The one thing that’s different with most of them? Well, I’m not exactly living down the hall from them, so I see them less and less, and when I do see them, I don’t know what to say. It’s not like our lives intersect like they did before. For all of you wondering, this isn’t meant to be an emo singer’s whining about what’s wrong with the world and how it won’t change. Although it won’t change this year, I need to accept that, move past it, and make the best of what I have. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to sleep until 5 minutes before Chemistry…
4. In your friendships, remember the risk/reward factor. The more you attach yourself to a person, even if you don’t say it, the more you set yourself up for a fall. ‘Nuff said.
3. Sometimes, the friends you take for granted are the ones that are actually your closest. I appreciated the simple friendships of some people and their willingness to listen. Some other people were just good friends who were there, more or less. Well, with everyone moved away, the people who I took for granted are still there, and the others aren’t quite as close. Funny that.
In any event, I apologize to all my friends for either neglecting you too much or obsessing over you; I’m a work in progress. And I am being serious.
2. The Madden curse may be muted, but its effects are seen. Just wait.
1. I’m still glad I’m here and not there!
More will come in time. Now to hang out with my friends…the cool ones...uncorrupted by Jersey--whoops, next topic. Sorry!
posted by Ty at 6:54 PM
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