Did you know that Cosmopolitan magazine, founded in 1886, was
actually originally created to be a home decorating magazine? Or
that the zero was only born 800 years ago? These are just a few of
the things I
’ve learned in my first few weeks of college. Every class I have
this semester has provided me with the chance to develop new and
exciting wrinkles for my brain. This semester, resulting from what
is proving to have been an intense moment of insanity, I enrolled
in 17 units of study at San Jose S
tate University. My favorite course, so far, is Mass
Communications, where we discuss the roles of different forms of
media and the way they effect society.
Did you know that Cosmopolitan magazine, founded in 1886, was actually originally created to be a home decorating magazine? Or that the zero was only born 800 years ago? These are just a few of the things I’ve learned in my first few weeks of college. Every class I have this semester has provided me with the chance to develop new and exciting wrinkles for my brain.
This semester, resulting from what is proving to have been an intense moment of insanity, I enrolled in 17 units of study at San Jose State University. My favorite course, so far, is Mass Communications, where we discuss the roles of different forms of media and the way they effect society.
Another exciting class I’m taking right now is Beginning Swimming. I was thrilled to find they offered a class for drowning rejects like myself. Our current assignment in the class is holding onto the side of the pool while kicking our legs.
Luckily, I’m a little more advanced than this, and have begun practicing my freestyle in the shallow end. I have yet to muster up the courage to attempt the deep end. (I am told it is “shark infested” water, but I’ll have to keep you updated on that.)
One exciting perk I discovered during my first week was that students can workout in the Fitness Club. It’s been great because when I have an hour or so in between classes I can work out and then walk right to my next class. (Well, it might not be so great for the people who have to sit next to me in my next class.)
I decided that I wanted to become active at San Jose State, so I applied for a student government committee and was elected to the University Affairs Committee. I am also enrolled in six Leadership workshops that the University offers, which are designed help students meet other students and develop leadership skills.
When I interviewed for the student government committee, the controller on the executive board of the Associated Students asked me, “Are you interested in joining Greek Life?” Assuming it was a magazine or something, I said, “Yeah, sure. What is it?”
It turns out that Greek Life is not a magazine, but instead is the term used when referring to the SJSU fraternities and sororities. At first I was more than a little hesitant about joining a sorority, especially after seeing Sorority Life on MTV. But I was very impressed with the girls from the sorority I was invited to join.
I was soon informed of all the great things sororities have to offer. A sorority provides each member with leadership skills, lifelong friendships, community service, academic help and encouragement, and is also the least expensive way to live near campus. (Don’t forget the wonderful luxury of having a housekeeper, chef, and gardener on staff. I can kiss those days of tedious chores good-bye.)
The sorority I chose seemed to be the most exclusive and expensive sorority out of the five chapters on campus. They could only accept a few girls and it seemed like every “new member” wanted to belong. One of the reasons it is more expensive is because our house has just been remodeled and we have the housekeeper, chef and gardener.
What sold me on this particularly chapter was the fact that they have had the highest G.P.A. for the last 10 semesters, won the most Panhellenic awards for Outstanding Achievement, and all the girls are incredibly driven and focused.
In fact, the controller is a senior member in my chapter. I instantly felt a connection with every girl I met. I’m excited about having 48 new sisters, and I already know exactly who I want to be my “big sister.” I assure you, my decision was not based on the fact that there is a fraternity house located on both sides of us. (Wink, wink.)
My sorority requires you to live in the house by your second semester at the latest, so it looks like I’ll be receiving my mail in San Jose in the near future. This isn’t a hardship for me because I love my Sorority House and have been exhausted from the commute and appalled at the amount of gas I’ve used going to and from San Jose everyday. I need time to get used to all the one-way streets around campus, so it will be a relief to easily walk to my classes.
I plan to write for the Spartan Daily as soon as all my pre-requisite courses have been completed and I have already spoken with the advisors, who both happen to be my professors. In the meantime, I plan to submit articles every chance I get. My news writing professor is one of the most intelligent and gifted men I’ve met. He worked for the Mercury News for more than 30 years and has actually been working with a paper in one way or another since he was 8 years old. He spent many years as the advisor to the Spartan Daily.
Already, he’s given me lots of advice, including on the subject of marriage. According to Professor Mac Lundstrom, I will marry a journalist. From his experience, all journalists marry other journalists. Some have tried to marry outside of their profession, but … they aren’t married anymore. I am told this is because journalists are all married to their jobs and the only way the spouse can understand the obsession is if they too are plagued by it. Hmmm …
I guess I should be paying real good attention to the guys in my journalism classes. So far, I don’t see any love matches, but who knows?
Every day I discover new things I love about San Jose State. I never really saw how beautiful it was until I started going there everyday. My favorite spot on campus is right outside the journalism building. There are several benches that circle around a fountain and if you sit there long enough, the entire University will walk by, along with all the San Jose State squirrel students, as well. I already feel a sense of belonging and appreciation for my school.
My favorite activity has been the Spartan football games. I’ve discovered that the experience of supporting my college team is just as fun, if not better, than it was in high school. It does feel a little strange donning blue and gold instead of green and gold, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it soon enough.
To all you high school seniors, don’t rule out San Jose State. I did, until I learned about their outstanding journalism program. But I’ve realized it has much more to offer, along with journalism. Even though it’s very close to home, it gives the student an entirely different environment and lifestyle. It is more expensive than a junior college, but still very reasonable when you consider that you’re attending a four-year University.
It’s only been two weeks and already my life is completely different. I don’t know where college life will take me, but I can’t wait to find out.
