The Most Wonderful Day of the Year!

It’s that time of year again—registration! Words cannot express my exuberance yesterday morning when I was able to sign up for fall classes. Even more than actually registering for classes, I revel in the weeks beforehand, when course offerings become available on Web Advisor and I am finally allowed to begin the meticulous process of putting together possible schedules. Is it nutty that I had dozens of color-coded charts and schedules, each with different possibilities for my academic life next semester? Is it weird that when I met with my advisor she didn’t even have to look and see when other classes were offered because I had their times memorized?

Perhaps I did enjoy the whole process a little too much, but this semester was truly the most fun to plan. When I registered for classes last fall and spring, I was double majoring and minoring. This made for a daunting, near impossible task as I struggled to cram so many hours of classes for one major with so many hours of classes for another, plus something for the minor, and let’s not forget honors or general education requirements. But this semester, after realizing I bit off more than I could chew and cutting back a tad, although still a challenge, it was at least doable.

You have to admit, it’s a challenge—especially at a small school that’s trying to minimize sections—to make a schedule that includes everything you need to take, but has no conflicts and does not require you to take nine hours of consecutive classes in a single day. It can be difficult, but that’s why I like it. Schedule-making is like one of those Sudoku puzzles, trying to fit everything together perfectly in the right order, with nothing overlapping or missing. And then, when finally everything is just right, you have that “I got it!” moment. Ah, sweet loveliness.

Happy Registration Week to all of you Angels! I hope you get all of the classes you need.

Week One...

I have been officially in college for one week now - so far, so good! Last Spring I agonized over "the college decision" for what seemed like an eternity, but once I finally made up my mind and sent in my deposit, I never thought about it again. I know that Meredith is exactly where I'm supposed to be, and I know that I am going to love it here. The past week everyone has been adjusting their schedules, dropping and adding, so classes are just starting to pick up now that everyone is "settled." It's not excruciating, but enough to keep me busy.

When I first signed up for classes, some days I only had two classes, and so I thought I would have some free time in my schedule. Ha. I am now discovering all of the hidden little details of being a music major - like weekly student recitals and piano rep/studio classes, which you are required to attend but don't get credit for. And then, of course, you must attend at least 10 music performances throughout the semester and write reports on them, and find at least 15 hours a week to practice. Major requirements like this keep popping up everywhere, and by the end of the week I'm sure I will discover something new to add to this list. Fun, fun, fun.

My favorite class so far might be art; I'm taking drawing. Yesterday was our first "real" class and we mainly just tested out our new art supplies. It was a lot of fun, and somewhat messy. As soon as I looked down and realized that both my hands were entirely covered in the blackest charcoal, my nose began itching. I didn't have a mirror, but I'm sure my face was a complete mess by the end of class because I kept catching glimpses of little smirks from my classmates as I walked to the sink to clean up.

All in all, I love Meredith and it has been a wonderful first week. Oh, and I also learned a song about a gondola in ear training. Random, I know - you kind of had to be there. Or, should I say, "You just have to experience it!" They say that about nearly everything at Meredith. :)