Complete First Week & Incoming Opportunities

The first week of classes has come to an end, with my first (and only) class for this Friday being my 8AM Prob. & Stats class. A lot of students talk about how "sylly" week is simply a "get to know you," and, "here's your syllabus and what to expect," type of week.

They are far from wrong.

This week I already have 5 different readings I had (have) to do, as well as a Pre-Lab for next week. It's not that bad. It kind of reminds me a little bit of the beginning of the year in high school.

Campus is, in short, gorgeous. Especially at night. I've walked home twice this week - once after our class photo in The Dome, and the second time after studying at the Student Center - and each time I was in awe. Maybe it was because of the lights, maybe it was because of the thought that I made it to my dream school.

Maybe it's both.

Despite how the tour made it seem like there wasn't ways to have fun here, there's so many opportunities to. What lacks in fun is made up in campus opportunities. Citrus in the City, a Poster Sale happening in the Underground, parties on Frat Row (of which I have not attended), Media Fairs, and, something that I decided to run for, Student Government.

I'm aware that it's only the first week of classes, and there's very well a possibility that the "fun" will die down in the coming days, but at the moment, I'm happy to be here.

The Media Fair was busy when I went today, which makes sense considering the fact that all of the organizations who came where Newhouse Organizations. My current list that I want to join includes:

• Citrus TV

• NABJ

• NAHJ

• Z89 Radio Station

• Investigative Reporters & Editors

• Zeta Phi Eta

• The Daily Orange

• Hill Communications

A pretty heft list, and that's not all of the organizations that caught my attention. I did get denied from Hill Communications, but all is good. There's plenty of other on campus organizations to get involved in. There is an opportunity to get involved in Student Government, and as much as I would like to (I sent in an application), I think I want to focus on gaining experience my freshman year. My resume at the moment is not as great as I would like at the moment. I only have working experience in one field and that's McDonald's. Not a lot of people are open to recruiting an ex-fast-food worker. I mean, on the flipside, there is the opportunity to be recruited simply because I'm studying at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; but considering I'm a freshman, the chances are low. I do need a job before Thanksgiving comes around, though. I need to find a way to fly home for the week somehow. With Week 1 of classes also comes Week 1 of campus life. I went to my first (and probably last) party over the weekend. It wasn't...bad, so to speak; more so not my thing. There was probably around 200 people that showed up and apparently that's considered small. It felt nice to get out of the house and meet people, but everyone was either high or drunk and that makes me more uncomfortable than I realized. If I were to get involved in that (and I'd like to put out: I'd rather not get involved in that), it'd be in a secluded area with friends I trust. At the moment, I have three of which I do trust.

One of them is majoring in Sports Journalism, one in E-Sports, and the other Data Analysis. They all seem really cool, and already have my back in things that are going on around campus. Out of the other people I've met, they're the ones (so far) that are offering to actually hang out with me in and out of our dorm.

Hell, they've offered to make sure I get home safe, multiple times, during the days I was out later than expected. One made sure I was actually having a good time while we were at the party.

This week hasn't been that bad, in conclusion. I did have a moment where the homesickness started to snake its way into my system, but that's about it.

All of the photos I took this week are posted on the Instagram, @tinas__talks. TikTok and YouTube content are coming soon, don't worry. In the meantime, take a look at the Patreon! I have this month's upload schedule posted there!

I'll catch you all later!