Alexandria's Autobiography

So this past couple of weeks has been crazier than EVER! We just finished Tempest and it was simply AMAZING! I had a wonderful time and I cannot believe that I am almost done with my first semester of college! WOW! Besides being busy with the play, I have  been doing Monday Night Live. Its also a blast. I have come so far in just these short months I have been here. I have made so many friends and learned so much. I can't wait to get started with planning my spring semester. I know I will have lots of things to tell you then as well !

Mid-Term

So I can’t even believe that I am halfway through the first semester of my freshman year! Midterms are coming up shortly and I really feel like the semester has blown by! This past weekend was Homecoming! So, needless to say, I have been extremely busy! My mom and dad came down to visit. They got to meet some of my teachers and got a first hand look of what my life is like here in the “Burg.” Since the semester is almost halfway through, we have been browsing through classes for the spring semester. I already have some good ideas of classes that I want to take. I have been staying busy with the Tempest and believe it or not, the first night of production is in a couple of weeks! Then we will start up Hello Dolly shortly after. This past Friday was my very first departmental for the music department. I performed for the first time as a freshman at UC! It was a bit scary, but in the end it was all worth it. And the best part was my family was there to support me. So I’m actually about to go to practice, so I must go! Ohh and the Red sox are playing tonight, so wish us luck!

I’ve had so much fun being here. (And its not only been outside of the classroom where I have had a memorable time.) In class I have learned so much and enjoyed it with my wonderful professors and classmates.  It’s amazing to know that I have learned so much in these past weeks. Its been challenging of course, but oh so rewarding. The professors want you to succeed and really care about you. Back in high school, I would hear this line all the time and it went something like this… “You know when you kids go to college, the teachers aren’t going to care if you fail. You need to be responsible and do all your work and study all the time.” Yes, I do agree with the last part of that overplayed-broken record statement about being responsible and studying. But the part about the “teachers not caring if we fail”, well that’s just bologna. They work so hard to make sure every single student in the class knows what is going on and is willing to set up study times or repeat what they said.  All of my professors constantly stop during class and ask if we are all in understanding. What’s great is that most of my professors are so clear and easy to understand that I rarely have to stop and ask them to explain. (And I’m the type of kid that asks questions about everything, like where the best place on the paper would be to type your name...yea it gets that bad…) I even have one professor who starts class off by asking if anyone has questions about the previous assignment or what we will be learning. I have found having that opportunity allows the students to really “get” what they are studying.

Class is fun, my teachers are pretty awesome and I love my friends! I have been staying busy with Tempest rehearsals and just yesterday I had my very first college costume fitting! I had heard the ladies who did the costumes were extremely talented, so I was really excited. I got there and the minute I walked in they asked me to try on a unitard. I was like uhhhh WHAT? You want me to wear a unitard…HAHAHAH…(I later found out that it was the under layer of the costume.) PHEW… It was so cool to have professionals come in and fit me for my costumes. Being a theatre kid, it’s so rewarding to have really great costumes. It makes you get into character even more. Besides the unique costumes, the set is already built!  This just makes me feel so thankful for a great theatre program and that I was cast! My high school productions were one of a kind and so much fun, but the college level is so different and even cooler!

Tomorrow night I have practice for this thing called MNL (Monday Night Live, kind of like Saturday Night Live.) I am so excited to be a part of this group because I love acting, but especially comedic acting. This college has so many opportunities available to everyone! It’s so great.
Last Friday was the first home game and…WE WON! GO PATS!  I had a blast with my friends and not only were we cheering on the boys, we were cheering on our friend Chelsea who cheers! She did just as good as the boys :)

Back in the dorm I was elected House Council President! This is awesome for me because I love planning activities and organizing. (Wow that sounded extremely nerdy) But it’s true! I love all that stuff, and I get to continue with it. I was worried that after high school I would not have all the same opportunities in college. Well, I can honestly say that I was wrong. UC has so many doors or opportunity to choose from. And they are all unlocked waiting for you to explore.

I have made so many friends in Gillespie. Just last night we all locked ourselves in my room and watched movies! It was so awesome to just chill with a bunch of girls who are so similar and fun!

Thing really have been amazing here. Amazing, there I go again using that word. Ok…I don’t know about you people who are reading this but something is killing me. I sound so chipper and peppy. I can’t help it though! It really has been that great here. I have been spoiled getting everything I wanted and needed.  This college has so much to offer. My professors are great, my classmates are sincere, I have learned so much, and been able to participate in so many activities. What more could I ask for?

In a couple weeks we have homecoming and all that fun stuff! I can’t wait to tell you all about my adventures here and what else I think is simply “AMAZING!”

Until next time, I will chat with you folks later Xo, AL

A new journey
Wow, where do I even begin?  So I have been here at UC for a couple of weeks, and it feels like I have been here for years. (I don’t mean that in the bad way either.) It has been amazing!  About this time, last year in high school, I would already be counting down the days till Christmas break. Now I’m afraid to even look at a calendar in fear that I will have to leave this place sooner than I want. I have made so many friends, learned so much, and been through so many wonderful experiences that I swear I’m dreaming. But whatever you do, please don’t pinch me!

Let me just say that I love my dorm. I am living in Gillespie! (YAY) I simply adore my hallway. We are probably the loudest of the hallways, but we mean it in all good fun! I actually met some girls at orientation who I hit it off with really well, and they happen to live right across the hall! All of these girls here are so different and yet we all share a special bond. It’s great to know that I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks and I already feel at home with these people.  I hosted a P.J. party for all the girls in Gillespie the other weekend and it was a hit! We all got to know one another and put names to the faces. Welcome week was also a blast!  I met so many people and made some lasting memories. (And had one too many caramel apple icees that the SGA so kindly provided.)

So of course all of the welcome week shenanigans (yes I did just say shenanigans) were totally amazing, but the real question was whether or not my classes would be just as memorable? Uhh-they totally are! My classes are really amazing. (I think that is my new favorite adjective, “AMAZING”) All of my teachers really know what they are teaching and as a student this makes me feel confident. I have already learned so much in these short weeks I’ve been here. I was also weary about the level of difficulty of the courses, but the professors really help you understand. I don’t feel behind or confused at all.

Besides all of the welcome week chaos and getting situated with my classes, I decided to audition for the musical Hello Dolly! It was a lot different than any other audition I have ever done, but luckily I scored a role as Ermengarde! I also auditioned for the fall play, The Tempest and …guess what…I got a part! I am a sailor and Iris, a Greek Goddess. (Its actually kind of funny because I am a man in Act 1 and by Act IV I am a woman. No, excuse me, a Greek Goddess.)

I know it’s only been a couple weeks here, but I feel like I have already accomplished and learned so much. I am living on my own! Ahhh, its crazy to think that this time last year my mom was doing my laundry…Now I am on my own doing it, feeding myself and being independent. Yeah, it is a little scary at times. But who knew that doing laundry was so easy and kind of fun?

Can’t wait till next time
Al

When I hopped out of my very eco friendly car (ford expedition) I could feel the nerves in my stomach. I had been anticipating this day for a while and it was finally here. I walked into registration among the new class of freshman anxiously awaiting the part where we break off into groups and mingle with our new classmates. The minute I left my parents I wanted to run screaming introducing myself to everyone in my path. But of course that would not make a good impression so I decided to smile and nod and act like I was cool. (Ha-ha) So after shaking a couple sweaty hands and almost routinely having conversations that went something like this “where ya from? Ohh ok yep, I have been there a couple times, I’m from Georgetown, near Lexington. What’s your major huhh? Well it was so nice to meet you (insert incoming freshman’s name here).” I decided it was time to stop being so generic and afraid and just be me.

The day was fun and a little bit overwhelming. I learned a lot about the dorm life and what was allowed in. Darn no pets. It was informational and fun. I got my mailbox number! To me that is the coolest thing because it’s a thing of independence. And I did a little shopping in the campus bookstore…(CUTE clothes!) One of the coolest things though that really made my orientation great was the fact that a bunch of upperclassmen remembered me from my previous visits. They were so genuine and even remembered my name. But probably the coolest thing was that one even came up to me inviting me to sit with some of the music majors for lunch! Ohh get this…I saw one of my professors and when I went to put out my hand for him to shake he pushed it away and gave me a hug. I really feel like the staff and student at UC like me and want me to succeed. Its great to know that I already know some students, professors, and even staff who know me on a personal level and are rooting for me.
So as the day ended we all met up back in the gymnasium. I was already really tired, but had to go to talk to my professors and sign last minute papers. The gym was so busy and it seemed my stomach began to get even queasier. My senses were going wild. People were everywhere Moms were nagging their sons to get in line. Girls were admiring each others new student I.D's constantly reassuring their new BFF that their hair did not look flat in the picture. Professors were meeting dads and laughing having a good time. And then there was me. I was in the middle of it all. Bumping through the lines and swarms of people trying to get a hold of my parents and right when I was in reach of them I heard a familiar voice calling my name. It was Dr.Smoak who was soon joined by Moe Conn. They came to reassure me about my schedule. This is a circus! The room grew louder and people grew closer to me. I could feel my heart pound and sweat roll down my neck. My stomach was doubling up like I just got off a roller coaster. They kept talking but all I heard was the voice of the teacher from Charlie Brown. I told myself to take a deep breath. But the more I told myself to breather the more I began to sweat and feel my stomach flip all over the place. That’s it. My head was spinning, no the room was. Ohh no. I am going to……and that’s when I decided to speed walk. Not run because that would not be cool. I briskly walked away from the professors and as soon as I turned the corner to the bathroom I took off like Sea Biscuit. I locked myself in the stall and nauseously leaned over the toilet.

Nope. I didn’t barf. Not in the bathroom (which I must say was very clean and smelled of flowers…Seriously) Nor did I up-chuck in front of or on my future fellow classmates and professors which would have most definitely ruined my first impression and promised me the never dying nick name of barf-girl.

After downing a can of 7up and eating some peanut butter crackers I felt worlds better. I guess it was a mixture of anxious nerves, and an empty stomach that made me get sick. Almost. I think I got a little too excited and overwhelmed with all the new stuff, new surrounding, and new people.

The orientation was such a wonderful experience even with my “almost barf-girl moment.” Every time I come to visit the university of the Cumberland’s I feel even more excited and welcome. It’s such a great feeling to be far away from home and feel so comfortable with the people and campus. These next few weeks are going to be very exciting for me as I prepare for this next chapter in my life.

You know that you’re going to the right school when you almost have a reputation ruining moment and still have a wonderful day!