I Hate School!!!

[Honeybee]

Hey everyone! Ok, I just need to vent for a sec. Today was my first day ever of college, and I absolutely hate it. I don't think my day could have been any worse. First of all, I commute to school and I'm really scared to drive on freeways but I had to. And then I knew absolutely noone in any of my classes, and it is practically impossible to meet people because the profs teach the WHOLE time!!!! It is awful. And I tried to buy books, but I couldn't find any of the ones I needed. When I asked for help they really couldn't do much because the bookstore was really busy. So, now I still don't have any books and I have to outline the first 7 chapters by Wednesday(how bad does that suck!!!) I know I'm in college and stuff, but that amount of work is just ridiculous. Then, I found out that I have to work on campus after school and my job is about the most boring thing imaginable(mail sorting). I just couldn't wait to get home and cry today, but that didn't happen because I lost my car in the parking deck!!! It took me over an hour to find it. I can't wait until rush starts because I need to meet some people on campus before this gets any worse. Wish me luck for tomoorow...and sorry about the negative post, but I had to get that off my chest.

[tickledpink]

College can take some time to get adjusted, but I'm confident that the more you get used to it, the better it'll get.

About books: Our bookstore would not have the books we needed in stock (it was usually expected) especially if the course was either relatively new or if the instructor decided to use a different text. SO, you have some options:
1) If it's a course (like a prerequisite) that was previously offered, you could put up a sign advertising your need for that book in dorms and the student union and buy it used. One thing that college students always need is CASH.
2) If not, let your instructor know that the book is not in yet. They're usually pretty understanding and will extend the deadlines based on your info.
3)Partner up with a classmate that has the book.

As for the job --- hey, consider yourself verrrrry lucky. You could be working in the student union/ cafeteria! There is nothing nastier than having to see how what you may have to eat later is prepared!!! (Trust me, I've been there --- some things are better left unknown).

Have a great year!

[ZChi4Life]

I'm sorry you had a bad first day Honeybee. What can I say...Welcome to college! College is definitely NOT high school! You can't gossip and talk and stuff while you're in class. I don't know about your school or others, but at mine, that's just something that you don't do. That's for high schoolers to do. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll meet peeps once the semester goes on. Just give it time.

As far as books go, well sometimes that's how it is. It does suck but hey, it's college! I've just learned to deal w/ it. I don't know how large your school is but uh, mine has about 28,000 peeps. I'm sure you can imagine the bookstore lines I have to deal with. Hey, there's always the option of buying books online now. Lots of peeps do it these days cuz they hate the lines. I don't really mind. I always wait until about a week or so after classes have started before buying mine. That way, if I drop a class right away, I don't have to worry about taking the book back and waiting in the lines again.

And as far as the work load...frankly, I've heard worse. But that's college for ya Like I said, it's NOT high school. You'll be ok. I know it's overwhelming, but you'll get used to it. It's like that at every college. Some might be a little better or a little worse, but overall, you're gonna have to do a lot more work than when you were in high school. Just do your best and keep your head high. Don't let it get ya down so quick. I've known a lot of peeps that have let their first bad experience w/ college get the best of them and then they do something drastic like drop out. It's not that deep. It's just college. More is expected of you now, that's all. Hey, you're working towards a degree in something that's gonna get you a great job hopefully. So a lot of professors, if not all, are trying to prepare you for your future career/job and life overall.

Again, I'm so sorry you had a bad first day, but trust me, it'll get better. Just use this angry energy to push you into making your college experience better. Hey, if you want, you can email me further. I was an academic peer advisor during freshmen orientation for 2 years, so I've got some experience dealing w/ freshmen and helping them adjust to college. Plus, I've been in college for 4 and 1/2 years so I've got some experience under my belt. Cheer up, you'll be ok

[Dewgirl]

I'm so sorry you had such a bad first day experience with college, Honeybee! I can sympathyze - I didn't really start to enjoy college until my second semester, when the one close friend I had made dragged my shy ass to rush, and I began pledging. Now I'm not nearly so shy, and I love school!

It's really hard to get used to the new workload! When you come out of high school, you usually have been pretty much floating by for the last several years. Once again...it'll get better in time.

As for not being able to meet anyone in classes - actually, your book situation will help you out. After class(definitely not during!) look around for people that seem interesting. Then either ask them if they were able to get the book, and if they have it, ask if you can borrow it/get copies/etc. Commiserating about school tends to be a #1 conversation starter. Just make sure you aren't too negative! Also a good conversation starter from freshman to freshman is: "Do you know how to get to (blank)?" Just make sure you know the person is a freshman too, other wise you will make it very clear that you are a freshman!

Good luck (we promise..it will get better!)

[lifesaver]

Cheer up Honeybee. I SWEAR it will get better. College has been THE best time of my life. It is a big change from your past life, and I don't think people adequately prepare incoming freshman for just how big that change will be. If it makes you feel any better, know you aren't alone.

I HAD A HORRIBLE first day of classes way back when. I moved 14 hours away to go to school, didn't know anyone else, didn't speak the predominant tongue of the area, didn't understand the culture, hated my roomate, couldn't find my classes, didn't know where the dining hall was & my university issued mattress had a VERY strange odor coming from it. We wont even discuss the multitude of stains on it. Anyway, I'll admitt it, I shead a tear or two. It was really overwhelming. My father had just passed away and then all of this newness. It was too much, but I met some great people in my first couple of months, and things got a lot better when I rushed.

It was easier for me to meet people, because I lived on campus. HOWEVER, you can strike up a conversation with people in your classes after the prof is done teaching, or arrive early and make friends. You'll need to learn how to "create" conversation before you go through rush, because you'll have to do a lot of it there. Just remember that almost everyone in the freshman classes is going through the same things you are. And the upperclassmen remember what it was like when they were in your shoes. Don't hesitate to ask for help. Go to the welcome week stuff held on your campus. You'll make friends at rush, but it's also important to have friends outside of greek life in order to be well rounded.

That is what college is all about (for me at least) exploring things outside my box; meeting new different people with different life experiences from yours. That's how you will grow. And think of this, you are growing RIGHT NOW. This experience will shape you and help you face tougher challenges ahead.

As for the books thing; call the bookstores FIRST thing in the morning (8AM. Others here can tell you what happens if you wait till 9am to do anything on a college campus,) but call the bookstores (all of them that service your campus) and tell them what your needs are. Most of them should offer some type of book reservation system where they will pull and hold your books till you get there. If not, explain your situation to your professors (during office hours, will give you a chance to meet them anyway, it helps when you are on the border between a B and an A). Most all of them will understand. I even had a prof loan me his book one summer session when I couldn't afford to buy my own.

I have rambeled on enough. I just wanted to let you know that it will get better. College isn't an instant panacea, but it is an awesome experience that develops over time. I have an email someone sent me a while back. I'll see if I can find it and I'll post it here. Will give you some perspective on what to expect.

If I was there I'd take you to lunch tomorrow on campus.

Best of luck!

[lifesaver]

This speaks for itself.

Learning in College

College is about learning. It’s not a simple as learning whatever it is that’s being taught in your core classes, though. It’s about learning how to listen, how to speak, how to think. Learning how to trust your innermost feelings, and how to find those feelings in the first place. It’s about learning what’s really important to you, and learning what you really don’t give a damn about. College is about learning how to tolerate, how to accept, how to like, and how to love. Learning how to give, as well as you receive, and how to trust that everything will even itself out on its own (you buy a pizza one night, your friend/roommate will the next night). It’s about learning that your mom and dad actually do have the right answers sometimes, and that your kid brother or sister isn’t such a dumb little kid anymore. College is about learning how to treat people as people, not stereotypes. Learning that sometimes a kiss isn’t just a kiss, that sometimes it means more, and that sometimes it means much less. Learning how to achieve, how to succeed, how to accomplish. It’s about learning how to not come in first place and still be proud, and about coming in last and learning how to admit that you could’ve done better. It’s about learning how to motivate others. It’s about learning how to make people smile. College is about learning that loud parties don’t necessarily mean a good time. Learning that loneliness doesn’t go away in a crowd, and sometimes it’s okay to be by yourself on a Friday or Saturday night. It’s about learning that your lunchtime crowd doesn’t constitute your popularity, and that popularity is all a matter of perspective. It’s about learning that boredom is simply laziness of the mind, and that watching three hours of Thursday night NBC is not quality relaxation time. It’s about learning that simply doing what you are supposed to isn’t enough, and that you need to put forth twice that much in order to fully grasp whatever it is sitting in front of you. College is about learning how to pack a bag, how to pack a car, and how to pack a room full of way too much stuff. Learning what the phrase "make do" means, and how to use it to make it seem as if you’re not simply "making do." It’s about learning 25 different ways of saying "we made out" and how to swear in all the different languages of your floor / building / dorm / housemates / friends. College is about learning how to miss people enough to not stick them in the past, and how not to miss them so much that it keeps you from moving into the future. Learning that people probably like you a whole lot more than what they’ll ever tell you, and that it is your responsibility to let your friends know how much you appreciate them. College is about learning. Learning how to live.

[Siobhan]

Honeybee,

I hated my 1st day of university and now I am returning for a 5th year. And like everyone else says, it does get better. I can also sympathize with that whole bookstore thing, it is annoying. If you can't find a book go talk to your prof, usually they can do something about it. Are you rushing, if so when? This is what really helped me in my 1st couple of weeks at school, especially with meeting people. Keep your chin up, I bet you college will turn out to be a blast.

[This message has been edited by Siobhan (edited August 28, 2000).]

[Honeybee]

Hey everyone. I just wanted to thanks you all for the great advice. It really did help me out...at least now I know that it will get better. I think all of it was just a little overwhelmong for me at first, but I just wanted to say thanks again for helping me put everything in perspective!

Lifesaver~that email you had about college was really cute. Thanks soooo much!

Siobhan~rush starts September 13(at least that is what i think...I can't wait).

Thanks again everyone. And just to keep you updated, I wanted to let you know that I didn't lose my car today in the parking deck. It looks like I'm making progress already :-)

[Asia2000]

Lifesaver - did you write all that? I am printing that out. I loved it. Oh no, look what you did -- you created a "forward" for my email!!

[lifesaver]

I wish I could take credit for the verse, but I cannot. A good friend from High School emailed it to me about a year ago. When I was pledge educator last year I ran copies of it off for our new members and I also fwd' it to everyone I knew. It is one of my favorite emails. It is so true. I wish everyone could read that their first year of college. It puts things in perspective. It did for me.

[ZChi4Life]

Hey all,

Ok, I know I started the thread about "What do you like about school", BUT now I have to say what I absolutely hate about it.

I go to UofMichigan and if any of you didn't know, there's oh about 37,000 people there--undergrad and grad. So it's quite packed!

Today was my first day back. Oh my gosh, let me just say that I CAN'T WAIT to graduate! I'm so glad this is my last semester.
The campus was just overflowing w/ people. All the bookstores had the hugest lines possible. It almost seems like there's 10,000 extra people here this year. It's never been so packed before. Or maybe I was just obvilious to all this. I don't know.

Anyway, I am fortunate enough to have a car on campus. Driving in Ann Arbor during the summer--cool. Driving in Ann Arbor during the school year--HORRENDOUS(sp?)!!!! Oh my goodness! Ever been stuck in traffic cuz a HUGE group of students are crossing the street and they don't give a rat's a** about you in your car? It was just awful.

Then class...goodness. Both classes I had today were filled to the brim. They were packed to the point where people were sitting on the steps of the auditorium! Man, I got used to the summer and having NO one around. Now, there's about half our stadium on campus and it's so overwhelming. And why did I have a class and the prof is telling us about this final project thing that will require AT LEAST 60 hours of work! I just wanted to cry. But I didn't. I just said "oh well, looks like I'll be dropping THIS class!" I'm a Senior, graduating in December. Does he really expect me to do all that work? Puh-leeezzze!

The funny thing about this? I'm going into my 5th year...you'd think I'd be used to this by now!

[SilverTurtle]

Driving in Ann Arbor during the summer--cool. Driving in Ann Arbor during the school year--HORRENDOUS(sp?)!!!! Oh my goodness! Ever been stuck in traffic cuz a HUGE group of students are crossing the street and they don't give a rat's a** about you in your car? It was just awful.

LMAO!! I only lived in A2 for the summer, and everyone did this.. walk across the street without an atempt to see if traffic was coming! At first it drove me insane (well, it still does when I'm driving), but then I started doing it ! I still catch myself doing it sometimes, even though I haven't lived there for 3 years!


------------------
SilverTurtle@greekchat.com
Phi Beta Fraternity
Phi chapter

[ZChi4Life]

SilverTurtle,
It's so bad cuz I am so weird when it comes to this. When I drive, I'm like "What the hell! Get outta the way! *bleep, bleep, bleep*! BUT when I'm walking, haha, I'm like "whatever, I wish you would hit me!" It's such a double standard. But yep, after 3 years, people STILL do it and it's STILL annoying as hell! That's why I'm glad that I live off campus. I just can't deal.

Originally posted by SilverTurtle:
LMAO!! I only lived in A2 for the summer, and everyone did this.. walk across the street without an atempt to see if traffic was coming! At first it drove me insane (well, it still does when I'm driving), but then I started doing it ! I still catch myself doing it sometimes, even though I haven't lived there for 3 years!

[prospectiverushee]

Zchi,

I know how you feel. I've been in school for less then 3 weeks and already I wish it was December. For one of my classes, I had 5 assignments due. Was so stressed out and overwhelmed, that I had to pull an all-nighter to get everything done. That's a really bad sign if I have to pull an all nighter 3 weeks into the semester.

And I totally feel you on the parking situation. I go to Louisiana State University and parking sucks. Football Saturdays are horrible cause the police block off parts of campus. This sucks for me because I work Saturday nights off campus. So if I want to get to work on time, I gotta leave super early.

This summer wasn't so bad. And finding a parking spot near my dorm wasn't too bad. Now that school has started, I'm scraching my head wondering were all these people came from. I burn more gas just trying to find a parking space now after I get off work.

[Siobhan]

What do I hate most about school - the autumn and winter weather. While UBC is beautiful on sunny days, it's a pain in the butt on cold days. In Vancouver it starts raining well now I guess (so much for the Indian Summer) and doesn't seem to stop until May or June. And when it rains these huge lakes appear on campus (especialy outside Angus and Buchanan). And its bitterly cold in Vancouver. Now I know that it doesn't get that cold here but you can't warm up. Now matter how many layesr you wear, you will be cold. And I my major gripe, the wind tunnel under buchanan bldg (the arts bldg, so this is where most of my days are spent). Now you may remember my mention of the view of the beautiful blue Pacific from my classes, well it ain't so beautiful when it's raining and windy. Because there is no protection from the ocean the wind just whips off it and sends the rain in all directions. This is no joke: I have gone through at least 10 umbrellas since starting there in 1996.