First Day Back

Hey all,

Hope this last weekend before classes went well, mine flew by. From going around with family to hanging out with friends I hadn't seen all summer I looked up at about midnight last night and realized how long I'd been away.

I'm officially done with classes for the day, I love my that I'm done with class before noon on Mondays, it makes them much more likable. It doesn't seem to be that bad of a Monday, mainly because the first class is always going over the syllabus and getting a handle on your Professor.

It seems so crazy that school is finally in swing, and getting used to what's going on around you. You may even have had homework get assigned already, I did. Get a jump start on it now. It's the very first day and what has been assigned isn't awful, however it will start to pile up by the end of the week. I'm going to try and crank mine out after lunch so that I can go to work (yes I now have a real job! All the paperwork is done!) not worrying. Then when my busy day tomorrow hits I'm not worrying about already assigned homework.

Can't wait to see what this week has in store for us, how was your first day?


-WyoBelle

Packing Up

Today marks the day of getting ready for going back to school. Tomorrow I begin to pack my clothes and other possessions.  In less than a week it will be time for move in and soon after starting school. Thursday is the official move in for on campus dorms here at University of Wyoming and I can't wait.

The big question is what to take to school? Remembering last year I realize that I overreacted. I in all the infinite wisdom of a new graduate decided that my room would be as empty as possible so that my parents could use the room as whatever they wanted. I took almost everything I owned, including almost all of my clothing. What I didn't take I put up in my closet or up in or attic. My room was absolutely bizarre looking after I was done.

The plus side to taking so much was the fact that I had everything I needed, and everything most of my friends and hallmates needed as well. Everyone would come to me if they needed to borrow something or eat food, as I was always well stocked up. This earned me the title of floor mom which had its ups and downs. The best part was that I knew almost all the girls on my floor, and we all became really friendly. It also meant that everyone would stop by, no matter when sometimes early in the morning, or late at night, or when I was busy writing a paper. It didn't bother me too much in the beginning but after months of this it took its toll.

One of my really close friends didn't bring much, about three weeks worth of clothes, four pair of shoes, her laptop and notebooks. Oh and food, that girl loved her food. Did she have what she needed? Yes. Did she borrow from me? Yes, but very very rarely. We seemed like polar opposites but for each of our own needs it worked for us.

 It was nice having so much with me and knowing that I would always have whatever I needed. The truth was that I didn't need everything I owned and as the year went, and when I went to visit family I'd take home certain things I wasn't using. Going back this year I have twice the closet space I did before, but I'm going to be taking a lot less. I only live four hours from home and if I realize I'm really going to need it in the near future I can always go home.

Even after the great realization it will be hard for me to leave things and I will probably overpack, but I'm working on it.

Are you getting ready for school? If so what's your strategy? A lot? A little? I'd love to know!!

-WyoBelle

P.S. Best tip for moving clothes on hangers is to leave them on the hangers through a black plastic bag over them make a hole in the top for the hanger loop and cinch the bottom... saved me so much time packing and made it so much easier!

Family

One thing I think we all need to remember that even when we are finally adults and on our own, our family is always there. However, they may not be there in the way we are used to, and that may be the most difficult thing of all. We are used to a certain way of acting, and then we hit adulthood and college, and life gets all topsy turvy on us. No longer living at home, trying to make our way in the world, yet when we come home we still have to respect our parents rules. It can be frustrating and we often wish to get far away from them or go back to the way it was when we were little. I especially miss being five, it was a blast!

My relationship with my mom got a whole lot better, my relationship with my dad basically didn't change. He expected more of me, but not unreasonably so. Which is really amazing for a guy who got thrown out of the house after graduating high school. I know that I can always come home, however it won't always be like that and after college if I ever want to do that I will be paying rent.

What I realized when I went to college, was that my parents did this! They moved out went to school and learned to live in the world all on their own, and they have had great experiences and know a few things. They were plenty happy to tell me that. I learned so much about my parents in the last year, its like they are different people. They have the best advice and understand what we are going through.

So while its not always easy to go through things, I just hope you remember that your family is always there to fall back on. They've been there the whole time and they want to go through this phase of your life with you as well. We often take parents and grandparents for granted, but they won't always be there and life is to short to waste time holding a grudge.

I have seen more of my Uncle and his family than I had in the last 5 years, and I only lived about 45 minutes away from them. Seeing his family and realizing how much I missed them was hard. I now have my aunts number and my cousin's number and we are planning on getting together and going sledding when I am back for Christmas break.

Cherish the last few days with family before we go back!

-WyoBelle

Jobs and Interviews

Today I had my first interview, it was a phone interview which made it a little better and also worse. Better because I didn't have to dress up and they weren't able to see me nervously pace and worse because there was a very quiet woman in the back and every time she talked the phone would cut out, every single time. I was so nervous because this was my first interview and now I know that I really need to do my homework.

Coming from a small town in Wyoming, I never really had to interview and the only time I did was with someone I've known since I was small, runs the high school church group, and is my nephew's Godfather. Not exactly nerve wracking. When I was applying for the Air Force Academy I did have to go through interviews, but I was prepared for almost every question and after three interviews I felt like a pro. Interviews are scary but they don't have to be.

 I'd pinned several things on Pinterest about interviews and what to do, but I really didn't take them seriously and I didn't read them well enough. They tell you to rehearse some things and be ready with certain questions, for example I got asked what my weakness was, a terrifying thing to share with a group of people who you are potentially going to work with, but find some way to show that you have been trying to fix your weakness and that you know how to fix that. Also I seriously recommend having certain questions ready for when they ask you at the end if there is anything you want to as, it shows that you are more serious about working there.

This was a total fluke, I had originally applied because I wanted some working experience and a little cash while I'm at school. I looked through several of the student listed jobs that had been posted and saw varying level of commitment, skill, and time in different jobs. I applied for two I thought would be easy enough to work on while at school and then hoped I'd get some kind of notice within the next two weeks. I got a phone call four days later, but this was for a similar job in a different area. I leaped at the chance. Hopefully by tomorrow I will be able to see if it was worth it.

Jobs aren't for everyone and some people need two to pay their way through college. Every situation is different and I encourage someone to see how much time they really can dedicate to what they are looking at. One must be logical and look at how that will hold up against school. It may be to difficult for some, while others like me need more than just one thing going on to really get the best results out of themselves.

My best tips are do your homework, know what the job requires, how you will be required to work (alone, group setting), and basic interview questions. They normally always end with a goofy question, try to be creative I wasn't ready at all for mine and had an odd answer. Again have a few really good questions for the interviewers.

All my best wishes towards nailing that interview, hope this helped.

-WyoBelle

Freshmen Fifteen?

As school creeps closer and closer it seems everyone has advice for new students. Work hard, have fun, enjoy your time, talk to your professors, and watch out for the freshmen fifteen. It seems like simple advice, but it is beyond true.

Especially the freshmen fifteen, now I'm not saying everyone is going to gain the freshmen fifteen. I didn't, but I had a friend who did and goodness about two months in she couldn't fit into her pants anymore. 

This mostly happens because of the food. I know that Dorm food can't compare to a warm homecooked meal, but some times they have pretty good food. Not to mention Washakie has a large variety of options, including desert at every meal and ice cream on demand. Remembering to eat in moderation and not load up on three entree's is important. Though every once in a while it can be fun too. 

Remembering to get in some form of exercise is the best thing I can recommend, a lot of high school students, especially those from small towns, did a lot of sports in high school. Now that college has happened only the elite are one sports teams, but there is always club and intramural which is even more fun. 

I really didn't want to get into sports again, and every so often I'd go running or hit the gym. Half Acre Gym like many college gym's is free to full time students because its part of what you pay with tuition. These are fully stocked gyms with many types of classes, a swimming pool, a track, four (yes four) basket ball courts, and of course work out equipment. Oh and a rock climbing wall. 

If the gym isn't your thing, I know places like Laramie have so many areas around it that are great for hiking. Vedauwoo for one. They also have a great Nordic skiing area and several Alpine mountains to ski on only an hour or two away!

With all these opportunities there is no reason not go do something physical, plus a good work out means your brain releases happy endorphins and makes your day seem brighter and homework easier to tackle. 

-WyoBelle

Go out and DO something

One of the most important things to learn about college and everything after, is that most often you are in a brand new area. That's a great thing it's a fresh start, however, because it's new not everyone is willing to go find the fun things to do.

 I can tell you I spent way to much time in my dorm freshmen year. We have this amazing park area just up the interstate about ten minutes, everyone calls it Vedauwoo (Vee-dah-voo). At Vedauwoo you have all sorts of difficulty level hiking trails and these great big bolders EVERYWHERE, its amazing. I didn't end up going to Vedauwoo until this summer when I went back to Laramie to visit friends, I loved it.

So get up and find great things to do, you will always have better memories of going and doing things than sitting in your dorm/apartment all the time. This summer I lived with my grandparents in Evanston for an internship opportunity. I still didn't get out as much as I wanted to but we would go to the Farmer's Markets on thursdays, go out to dinner, meet up with my grandma's bridge club ladies, and this last week we went to the Uinta county fair. 

It's August, which means fair time in Wyoming. It's a great way to go see what a lot of the local youth do all summer long. I love fair it's a blast, and just this past wednesday was pig wrestling. One of my grandmas friends, who told us that she was 68 not 21, decided that she wanted to pig wrestle before she dies and this was the year. It was so funny. My friends and I think we might do it next year. It was a really great time and it raises money for the local 4H and FFA. 

I can't wait till next weekend, it's the Lincoln county fair and for the past few years my family has been making it up to Afton do go watch.

Hope your July went well, its August and school is just around the corner.

- WyoBelle