Making Major Decisions

I’m not good at making major decisions.

Even picking an ice cream flavor at Friendly’s or the Hickey Dining Hall requires deep contemplation and intense studying.

So you can only imagine as a freshman with a multitude of class options available how distressing it is to choose a major. It’s even challenging to narrow the list down for next semester’s classes.

To add more irritation to the decision-making process, just like at the ice cream parlor, one can choose a major decision of wanting a single or a double. You can even add a minor to your university experience like the toppings mixed at the Hickey.

Other students like me in the Franciscan Healthcare Program are biology or chemistry majors. To fit in all the class requirements, I could’ve chosen the biology track—a safe, reliable choice like vanilla ice cream. I could’ve chosen journalism, which is my guilty pleasure, just like a scoop of birthday cake ice cream with hot fudge. That road led me to a first semester path consisting of journalism, math, science, Clare College and language courses.

It also led to an undeclared major.

However, I find solace in having a difficult time choosing a major because I heard the average college student changes majors three or four times. At Bonaventure, students should declare a major as a second semester sophomore to graduate in four years.

After four years at Bonaventure, my scoop of ice cream will be a blend of flavors and toppings.

I’m looking forward to finally enjoying the eclectic mix of ice cream called a bachelor’s degree. Along with fulfilling the requirements of a major, I’m excited to dip my spoon in every subject while at Bonaventure the next seven semesters.

But sometimes I wish Bonaventure offered rainbow sherbet with extra sprinkles as a major just like at the Hickey.

Loads of Laundry

I never realized that doing laundry and reading care labels might be just as challenging as my academic studies.

Yes, I knew I would be studying harder in college than high school.

But I didn’t realize I would be studying terms like colorfastness, boosters and pre-treat. Studying laundry care labels is like learning a whole new language.

Sure I did do my own laundry at home, but there is a huge difference in having your mom, just up one flight up of stairs, to review the protocol for removing spaghetti sauce stains.

At home I could leave my clothes in the washer and dryer all day. Now I have to set my alarm clock when doing laundry so someone doesn’t take my clothes out of the machines and leave them on the table.

I learned the key is to pay attention to the labels, avoid clothing with decorative trim or linings, and purchase all the same exact socks, so you never have to find its exact mate. It is also smart to measure the exact amount of detergent verses just pouring liquid into the machine.

Of course, it is so wonderful that at Bonaventure, there is no need to scrounge for quarters before you head to wash clothes. Free laundry at Bonaventure is quite a perk and quite an adventure.

Running the Trail

Some days I prefer enjoying the landscape by running the trail rather than working out in the Richter Center.

I run through campus and on the trail past the river and beautiful landscape. I relish when I can alter my running course and explore new routes in the neighboring communities of Allegany and Olean.

Since I was one of those kids that ran away from the ball on the soccer fields and basketball courts, I thought my classmates would appreciate if I opted out of intramural signups. Fortunately, for those that played team sports at the high school, there is an array of intramural sports at St Bonaventure.

Running and biking the Allegheny River Valley Trail is a picturesque option in the fall. While the leaves are changing to red, orange and brown, it’s a beautiful time to take a scenic tour of the Bonaventure campus by jogging on the trail.

I’m trying to make running a habit. I try to run a few times a week on the campus trail. My aching knees have given in to the harsh realities of running: It hurts. My daily runs are like a blank computer screen; each day is an opportunity to explore a new route. There are times when my exhausted legs ache and just want to give out, but I know I have to push myself to return back to my dorm in Loughlen.

Everyone from a mail carrier to my distant cousin gave me advice before heading off to college. The universal guidance was hands down finding something healthy to do that balanced my studies.

Well, if they saw the trail, they would know that has never been the problem.

The Bona Bubble

It felt odd walking into my old bedroom, seeing my friends for the first time in months, and driving past my high school.
It seemed odd to be stuck in traffic and drive past large shopping malls and tall buildings.

But by far the weirdest feeling to returning home was having a binding curfew instated. A curfew? My dad insisted that I be home by midnight. Just like life in high school.

Midnight? The negotiator in me tried unsuccessfully to add a few hours to his time clock. I pleaded and begged until finally I was able to maneuver and persuade him to add an hour to my evening.

While I was looking forward to going home and stepping out of the Bona college bubble for a few days, I miss the freedom and independence that comes with college life. When Tuesday arrived, I was eager to head back to campus to see my college friends and be curfew free.

It was great to return home and see familiar faces. From the grocery store to the local coffee shop, it was fun to reconnect with friends and family. I even enjoyed the bombardment of the same questions over and over. How is my roommate? How are classes? How is college? Each day was packed with non-stop activity visiting friends, spending time with family and running errands.

So far, college is one huge lesson in time management; so was going home for a few days.

College Life Distractions

The multitude of options and possibilities to enhance distraction and procrastination astound me in college.

Want to avoid studying? There are millions of ways to fill your time. Yes, it amazes me how quickly time evaporates as a freshman in college.

Let’s start with my own laptop: from music, to Twitter, to e-mail, Netflix movies, to Skype and Facebook. What I call excessive cyberslacking has really cut into my studies, forcing me to stay up a lot later to finish studying.

So many alternatives to studying exist right in my very own dorm room. When I get tired of looking at my laptop screen, I can glance at the television. Other times I’ll have a long, thought-provoking conversation with my roommate on some crucial topics. We discuss issues like her all-time favorite Halloween costume from elementary school or most beloved cupcake flavor at Georgetown Cupcakes.

I’m even finding chores around the dorm more appealing than cracking open a calculus book.

I have never been one to like vacuuming, but lately I prefer the vacuum to calculus any day. It is staggering how hours can vanish going to the Richter Center and hopping on a machine or tossing and re-tossing a salad in the Hickey to avoid studying.

My mom suggests that I visit homework-friendly, quiet locations like the library or an empty classroom. So now it’s time to try these new study techniques.

Or maybe I’ll just get distracted again online.

Home Sweet Home

I can visualize, smell and savor the concentrated scent of cinnamon on my mom’s cranberry apple-crisp baking in the oven.

I’m getting ready for my first trip back home after seven weeks of cafeteria food, and I am eager to devour my favorite family recipes.

Since my family lives in St. Louis, a weekend trip is not an option, but three days is enough time for a visit home. This is the longest I have lived away from my childhood bed and Tiffany-box colored bedroom.

I can smell and feel my striped duvet cover, down comforter and thin cotton sheets.

I am looking forward to a stocked pantry filled with boxes of my favorite cereal and my beloved Power Bars. It will be a relief to know that I don’t have to dig deep in my jeans for my debit card or shop at the local Wal-Mart.

While some of my high school friends will also be returning home for the first time this weekend, I am ashamed to admit that my typical reaction to hearing about their experiences will probably be one of envy. I will always believe “the grass is always greener on someone else’s campus.”

As much as I enjoy, feel comfortable and at home at Bonaventure — and knowingly made the right choice for my college experience — I am quite good at comparing, contrasting and making the huge leap that my high school peers are at the perfect place.

The exciting times my high school friends share will always sound more appealing than mine, but I am going to work on keeping my college experience real and in perspective.

Daily Richter Trips

Some of my friends attending large universities spend a lot of time walking to class, walking to the library and walking back to their dorm rooms.

Not me.

My classes, the cafeteria and the Library are less than a stone’s toss from Loughlen, my residence hall. Sure it is convenient. No need to purchase a pedometer. No reason to exert myself before I head to class.

So I start to wonder; how will I ever avoid that dreaded freshman 15?

I figured since I was not taking climbing any hills to get to class, it was time to enter the gym. With all this down time, I surely thought I could easily maintain a healthy balance between work, school and fun.

Surprisingly, time seems to disappear rather quickly in college.

I need to plan out my daily schedule and make a deliberate attempt to stop at the Richter Center. Yes, it helps to have a workout plan in place along with a willing exercise partner. So I grab my roommate, an iPod with headphones and head to the Richter Center.

As in every other aspect of life, a friend can provide the support and motivation to exercise daily. Nothing cements a friendship like sweating it out together. And my dad likes to remind me a big chunk of my student fees goes to the gym, so yet another reason to utilize the equipment at the Richter Center.