Seven Lessons Learned in Seven Weeks

I've been here officially for 7 weeks, so I wanted to share 7 things I've learned (or re-discovered) since moving to Tallahassee:

1. I really enjoy being a student again 
I guess I was always a good student, doing what was asked and getting pretty good grades, but I had so much else going on, I just usually did the minimum or pretended I read when I really didn't (shocker I know... ) Now I feel like a real lifelong learner- someone who is actually reading, absorbing, and questioning what I'm supposed to (and more), and actually enjoying myself! Of course, you've got the occasional dry material that one must get through to understand the basics of higher ed, but, for the most part, I am very interested in everything we're talking about, and the research doesn't bother me. I guess it's in part because I know I will actually be using this material in my career, unlike those math word problems I spent so long trying to figure out...

2. Life moves a little slower down here
Whether it's driving, talking, or just walking down the street, it seems like people are not in too much of a hurry to get anywhere. In Chicago, everyone was rushing to get somewhere. You either walked fast or got out of the way, and the driving was aggressive and fast-moving. It was not uncommon to spend a forty-minute commute on a train and not talk to a single person. The south is a little different: drivers tend to move a little slower- always using turn signals and a lot of them being friendly enough to let you in their lane. You go anywhere and people are smiling and saying hi (even when you just got out of the gym and are standing in line at the grocery store, the woman behind you wants to know how your day was). And everyone's accent means it takes them an extra few seconds to get a sentence out. I have not gotten used to it yet, so the jury's still out on whether I like the slower pace yet or not, but right now I'm just trying to enjoy it!

3. Free time (and DVR) is underrated 
Anyone who knows me is well aware that I do not like to be bored. I would rather run around all day and not be home until midnight than sitting on my couch for an hour with nothing to do. My always-wise father continuously reminds me to "stop and smell the roses" aka take a second to enjoy my free time or whatever it is I'm doing at the moment. But so far, I have been less busy than usual, and I am actually enjoying the relaxing time! I've taken full advantage of DVR-ing trashy shows and watching them while eating a bowl of popcorn and cuddling my kitty. I've also been able to schedule travel time to see friends and family, so I'm very thankful for that. As things start getting busier- adding internships, committee obligations, etc- I'll hopefully remember these wonderfully boring moments!

4. I am a runner
This is something I discovered about 2 years ago while I was working at my summer job in Pennsylvania. There's not really a gym there, and one of my best friends suggested I go running with her, so I said why not! That summer, I ran almost every morning, and since then I think I've actually developed a love for the sport. I love it because it's going to be the same here, in Chicago, or anywhere else- a good common ground to start on after moving- and it's just me, my favorite running shoes, and some awesome music. I'm currently training for a half-marathon in February, so we'll see how that goes!!

5. Football is awesome
The football culture here is insane! It was definitely a big part of why I picked the program, partly because I'd been missing that while I was in college, and partly because it literally defines the undergraduate experience at Florida State- and I knew I had to experience how different that would be. Let me tell you- being in the stadium with thousands and thousands of fans, all supporting their school and screaming the same cheers at the top of their lungs is pretty cool! I'm glad I came to such a different school with this kind of atmosphere, and it's made me think I would be okay working somewhere like this after I get my Masters!

6. I have the best friends and family in the world
I'm used to being away from some of my favorite people- from Minnesota to Texas, Pennsylvania to Ohio, and of course, Chicago, I have always had friends all over. It's something I don't mind- calling or Skyping with those people, and if I'm lucky, getting to travel to see them every once in a while. But what I didn't realize is that, for the first time since moving to Chicago, I would leave everyone at the same time. I'm not sure I understood what that would mean until I got down here and realized I'm literally a thousand miles away from anyone I know, and that was hard to come to terms with. However, the people I left behind- no matter what city or state- have been so supportive and wonderful! Calling, texting, writing letters, and even planning visits have all kept me sane and it's a reminder that even though I'm not close to any of them at the moment, that doesn't mean our relationship has changed at all. After all, they say distance makes the heart grow fonder...

7. I'm getting used to working at FSU (and calling myself a Seminole) 
We talk about it all the time as a cohort...where did you come from? What was your favorite thing about your undergrad? What was it like to be a student there? What was the student affairs department like? Every time we get to answer these questions, I can't help but brag about DePaul. I had such a fabulous experience there, and I truly felt like it was my school, that I want everyone to know just how awesome it is! But when I just get nods and smiles talking so passionately about Vincentian Service Day, how much I miss taking the el everyday, or how much fun it was working for DOS/NSFE, I forget that no one here knows what I'm talking about. I'm the only one in the program from Chicago- a consequence of going so far away- and therefore, I have to remind myself that my references to the brown line or even *gasp* snow must be explained instead of being automatically understood. It has taken some getting used to, and there are still times where I get so nostalgic for Chicago that I go home and google the latest news- just to see what's going on. But I am a Seminole now, and It's definitely not a bad place to be. I mean, hey, it was about 80 degrees here today, so I can't complain :-) Plus, I'm building new shared experiences with everyone in my cohort, and that's something that I'll always have with them, which makes me excited to be here!


Until next time...