You Snooze, You Lose

I have one piece of advice for not only the college student, but to any one who has some where to be; do not (I repeat do not) become friends with the snooze button. Maybe your bed is extra comfy or maybe you just  stayed up late and you can't get out of bed, whatever the case may be do not hit the snooze button like its the answer button on a game show. There is no other way to say this, just get up. I know you rather not leave your furry robot blanket and body pillow but the world is not waiting.

 There is no remedy to stop oversleeping but there are certain steps we should take to prevent it from happening. First, if you have a class you should set an alarm. It doesn't matter if you think you can get up on your own. We are not robots, so set your alarm and make sure its a reasonable time. If it takes you an hour to get dressed don't set your alarm 15 minutes before you have to be somewhere.What should you do when that alarm goes off? You guessed right, get up.

If you follow those steps you should be fine. However there are days when the sleep fairy gets the best of us.
I believe that being late is better than not showing up at all. You may disagree but consider this, missing ten minutes of class versus missing an entire lecture. Which sounds better to you?

It is all up to personal decisions.If you try hard to make the best choices than you should be fine.

Peace ♥ and alarm clocks

In between homesick and just sick

Living in such close proximity to others, common illnesses are bound to be passed on. Think about it; if your whole dorm floor is sick or your roommates are sick your going to get sick.

So here I am sick as a dog. It is a combination of the common cold and body aches. I canceled out the flu because I had that vacination before I came to school. I have always been the misberable type when I am sick. I don't want to do much or go any were. However, I have never let the way I feel interfer with my school work. This is majorly important in college. Students get sick all the time and teachers get sick all the time. There is  no room for pity in school. Now, I'm not saying walk around like your pefectly fine when in fact your not. I'm advising you to keep the work ethic up. You can't think your professor is going to understand that you did not turn in your essay becasue you didn't feel well. Although, some teachers my take sickness into consideration (possibly with a doctors note), most will not. Simply put, a cold is just a cold and the work (or the world) does not stop for you.

On another note, I think I might be home sick. No dramicllly, were I call home every day or wish I could leave. Just to the point of missing some people back at home. I miss my grandmother the most because she has been my best friend my whole life. There is no food here to remind me of the aromas in her kitcken. I miss seeing the smiles of people that made me smile. The new season at my old dance centers are starting without me. I won't hear the young girls I used to student teach dance class calling me Ms. Ciera. Simple joys like going to my best friend's house around the corner are over now. I look forward to coming home to visit but it seems so far away. Still, I am happy to experience college like this. I will gain a better understanding of myself being away from everyone I've ever known. I want to travel the world some day. How can I possibly go to India and Africa if I can't deal with being six hours away from home. Being away from family and friends for a good amount of time is not for everyone. I plan to use this time in college to my benefit. The hope is that I become a more rounded person. After all, everyone has room to grow.

Best of luck to my fellow students
♥

Living with others

In my opinion the number one rule of living with roommates is to be considerate. Always be aware of the fact that you are living with other people. Little things you used to do at home (like waiting a whole week to make your bed) you should not do in a dorm room. It's as simple as applying the things we learned in kinder garden. When you made a mess at lunch time, you were told to clean it up. This simple routine doesn't stop because you have no one telling you to do it. You wouldn't act out at nap time, so why wouldn't you be quite when someone else is sleeping.

Just my vent for the day.

Dear Pittsburgh

Let me start by introducing myself. Hello, my name is Ciera but you can call me CJ. I'm originally from the city of Philadelphia, but college has brought me here. Although I'm used to a faster pace and bigger city life, I must say I'm impressed. Your downtown area where my school is located is just as brimming as my own streets. The lights atop the tall buildings never lose there shine. I must admit I'm falling in love with you. Your hills are Godly from the top of the incline. Once at the top I can't help but look out. To see the city from that angle, view the bridges and just take it all in is amzaing. It's almost to much to stare at. Blinded by your beauty I smile at the sun. The best part is this is only the begining. I have yet to see your snowy hills or even the rain pour down. For the next four years I am yours to keep.

Never stop showing your grace
Sincerly, CJ  

You were born alone

Everyone thinks that when you go to college your supposed to make a ton of friends and always hang out with them. Any free time you have should be spent with classmates you like or even people you meet at random. By senior year you should know almost all of your class and some upper class men too. Right?

I won't say your wrong, but I do disagree. Yes it is great to meet new people and make life long friendships. In college you will meet people from all walks of life. Common interest also start the path to  great friendships. At the same time we need to learn something. This is important so make sure you get it. IT IS PERFECTLY NORMAL TO BE ALONE. You don't need someone by your side the whole way. Bathroom runs only take one, its OK to sit at a cafeteria table alone and  studying does not require a group. I'm not telling you to be a loner through out college. I am informing you that it is alright to have alone time. Take weekly visits to your library or join a new club. Don't wait for others to jump on your band wagon. Do the things you like to do alone or with people who like to do them just as much. After all if you can not be happy alone, what makes you think you can be happy in a large group.

I hope your not thinking I'm anti-friends, I'm not. I am pro friends, all about going out every once and awhile. Still unlike others I understand one important thing. This is that I was born alone. My biggest priority is myself. I make myself proud, happy and even sad. I see the same joy in going for a walk alone and going out at night with a group of girls. I find peace in painting my toes when I'm alone in my dorm room. I smile at the thought of a random dance party with my girls. Both make me just as happy.

Basically, I cherish my alone time just as much as I do spending time with others. And you should too.

This isn't high school...

But boys will be boys and girls will talk. The truth is people will always be human, with human flaws. In high school we did things like pass rumors or start them, crush on boys, then break there hearts and get dressed up for prom. College is not extremely different. Girls are just as catty, boys are still gorgeous but instead of getting dressed for prom, you get dressed just to go walking around the town. The truth is people are people. If Mary has always been the mean popular girl, what makes you think that college will change her. I mean it is possible for people to change but not over night, or in one semster for that matter.

A little advice for copeing with people you think still belong in high school. First think about being in there shoes. Do you really know his or her story. Maybe she talks about others because she has low self esteem. Or did you think about his home life and how it effects his conduct. Consider this, if someone grows up with parents that swear and fight what makes you think that he or she will be loving and nice. We are only a product of our envorment untill we decide to be more.

Consider when meeting childish people there total effect on you. Who cares if she thinks your dress is ugly. We all have our own minds, and apprently you thought it was beautiful. The day will come when your working out in the gym and a guy shouts "looking good sexy". He is totally unaware that he looks like a pig, but you know he's dumb so who cares. You don't have to date these people or even be good friends with them. Make your college exprerince and life about you. The rest will fall into place.


 Last words:Yes you will find immature people in college. And you will have to deal with them. The only persons worth trying to empress are your professers. Other than that, be your self and be good at it.

This is not the night before Chirstmas

When I wake up in the morning at promptly 6:30 am (yes I'm a morning person) snow will not be falling from the sky. No presents will be under a green Christmas tree. My milk and cookies will still be here. Tomorrow may not be Christmas but the felling in your stomach right before may occur. I know you remember laying in bed the night before Christmas thinking "did I get everything I wanted" and for all you bad kids "did daddy really tell Santa to get me coal". That's how I feel right now, and I'm sure you do my fellow college freshmen. Nervous just does not cover it. Its more complex than that. More complex then the day before high school even more complex than the night before graduation. This nervous feeling is laced with excitment also. I'm really excited to get the feel for my professors. I was a huge teachers pet since kindergarten all the way through high school. Still college is different and some teachers just are not interested in anything but grading you. Pass or fail they don't care about your home life. I'm hoping to find some that care about more than my student id number. A plus is I have all female professors, and I have faith in the universal since of understanding that we women have.

Now let's get back to today. By now you know it is not Christmas Eve and its not even winter yet. It is the day before my first (I mean our first, were in this together) college class. The big day that could change our college  career forever. First impressions are key next to networking. You go right ahead and be the quite kid sitting at the back of the class, never raising a hand. I prefer to get there early, sit in the front and ask more questions then a phone operator.

Take my advice and make the most out of your first day no matter how many classes you have, get up. Get the feel for the campus when it's fully alive. After your last class look over the syllabus and text books. Be two steps ahead, and not one behind.

Since I am such an early riser I think I should make new advice to follow; get your rest. I would be wrong not to follow my own advice so off to sleep I go.

Tomorrow starts a new chaper in my life. I plan to write in red ink and go page by page. My book will be written not with just a happy ending, but one I can be proud of.

But wait there's more

Today was a long and great day. Beyond great possibly . The rest of my freshman class moved in today. Boy, am I glad I beat the rush. All the lines and traffic; early move in day is the best honors perk. Instead of rolling around huge carts of boxes I spent the day talking to my mentor and meeting new people. Nothing tops meeting the head of my department (journalism) Helen Fallon, who is also the head of HSO. In college and in everyday life its all about networking. Who you know might determine who you become. So you can see why having a conversation with a leader like Helen puts me in a good position. I really hope I get her one work study spot. 

After all that honors stuff I had a mini adventure. My mother decided to take me and my roommates to the market for food. Funny thing is we have never been to a market in Pittsburgh and we had to follow printed directions. Between the twist and turns and my aunts cynical comments my mom was a bit stressed. Once we reached the market she started breathing again. Soon after last goodbyes and hugs my roommates and I were getting dressed up for a boat ride. I had never been on a boat that actually sailed so I was a bit nervous. Once the food was in my stomach and the music was playing I felt much better. And I didn't get sea sick so that was good.

Now I am back in my dorm hanging out. I can't say I'm tried yet.

 The night is young
and the streets are cold
 but my heart is beating
and I'm not old

Hello Dorm Room

Today was the big day. Official early move in day took place to day. I have been waiting for this day ever since I knew what college was. Excited does not do me justice. It became all too real packing up the car this morning. The mountains and clouds of this beautiful world itself has the power to bring me to my knees. I had to fight tears when I saw the sun rise.

Well I'm all moved in now. My room looks amazing and my roommates are great. This has been a big journey for me and everyone who loves me. Having to say goodbye or see you later was hard. Now all I can think about is my future and how just by being here I am making it brighter.

I want to be who I dreamed of becoming; great.

Last Night Home

This is beyond bittersweet. Saying my last goodbyes. Last time sleeping in my full size bed (I'm gonna miss that). Tomorrow marks the first step I take as a college freshmen. I have to accept the fact that I will be living in a new city, with new people and a new school. Well the saying goes when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. But I prefer mango lemonade so you know I'm gonna give Pittsburgh a dose of me.

I will miss so much about this place but I look forward to my new city. I smile at the thought of all the new memories to be made. Whats's better then having the chance to begin again.

peace

My life in boxes

Four storage bins, two under the bed bins, one suit case and one shoe bag ago I realized something; pretty soon I'll begin my journey as a college student. A real live college student, dorm and all. I find it hard to believe that three days from now I will be six hours away from home. Six hours away from friends.Six hours away from everything familiar.Leaving the only place you have known for 18 years can go one of two ways. You can hate it and come back home (nah) or love it and stay forever(maybe). I don't know about the stay forever part but I plan to make the most out of college. The good, the bad and the worst.

The only thing I can say for sure I'm not going to miss is this feeling. You know the one, kind of sad because your leaving all the people you love, happy to get away, anxious for all the new things that await. I think I'll call this feeling "up, down and somewhere in between". I'll explain, an example of an Up is I get to decorate my dorm room. Example of a down, I'll miss my boyfriend. Example of an in between, I have no idea what college is going to be like. Still I say I'm not going to miss this feeling because well I prefer to be a bit more stable with my emotions. Crying when I think about being away from my grandma and jumping for joy on my bed the next day is getting pretty old. Enough said.

So when the time comes for me to unpack my life in my new dorm room I'm hoping for three things. One, I hope all my stuff fits on my side (trunk party's get the job done) two, I hope that the food is good(if not no freshmen 15 for me) and three that I packed enough pictures to look at and cry over. The old memories are made and more are yet to come.

♥