Taking in My New Surroundings

     Flashback to summer of last year and I would've told you I was ready for college, ready to leave home, ready to start fresh with new people and surroundings.  I was ready to be away from my parents, my pets, my house, a place where I feel comfortable.

     I soon realized, however, that college wasn't what I thought it would be.  It started out busy, but full of lots of friendly faces on my floor and I thought I was included, part of a new family.  But I realized these people weren't exactly who I thought they were.  They weren't like my family and best friends who always have my back.  They were people who began to make me feel abandoned, boring, and friendless.  But as I look back, I realize that I learned something very valuable.  I learned that not everyone you meet will be your best friend.  I learned to be more independent.  And most importantly, without feeling abandoned by them, I wouldn't of found the people who do care about me.  I wouldn't of found people I want to explore, make memories, and most of all live with next year.

     I have no hard feelings towards these girls and I try to keep a positive attitude when I talk about them.  I feel guilty for saying anything negative about, but until I found new people to spend time with it was hard to stay upbeat.  They are not bad people and I am glad they found each other to be friends with.  They have done nice things for me in the past, like decorating the outside of my door for my birthday.  My roommate also got me cupcakes for my birthday, which was incredibly sweet.  My first semester here I felt included by them, but as we started our second semester here, I realized we were drifting apart and they were drifting together.
     What kept me going during hard times before I found new friends was the support from my family and friends back home.  For Thanksgiving I got to go with my Dad to see my cousins in Wisconsin.  I got to have some much needed bonding time with my cousin Carley.  As I've settled into college, Carley and I have managed to stay really close.  We snapchat all the time and have even had a few Skype dates during weekend nights when we both feel alone.  While we were at our Grandma's house we managed to have a little spa night, with facial masks and hot tea.  It is a memory with her that I will never forget.

Mimi may not agree but dressing her up
as Santa is also relaxing

A few weeks later my first semester came to an end and I got the wonderful opportunity to spend over three weeks at home for winter break.  Ah, no homework to work on, tests to study for, or essays to write, just quality time with my family, friends, and critters.  It is times like these I truly cherish much more now than before.

 But just like most vacations seem to go, at least good ones, time goes by too quickly.  Before I knew it, it was back to the grind of college life.  This semester has been full of good memories though.  The day before coming back my parents took me to a Griffins game.  And then the next weekend I got to go to the Grand Rapids Public Museum for the first time.  I really enjoyed the dinosaur exhibit.
     The rest of my second semester has gone pretty smoothly.  It's hard to believe in less than two weeks I'll be leaving my dorm to go home for the summer!  I hope you have enjoyed this blog post.  I'll try to post again soon.  Hope you all are having a wonderful spring!