Monthly Archives: December 2013

Finals Week

Going through your first finals week of your freshman year, you learn a lot. You learn which one of your friends are going to get you to study more vs. the ones that gets you off track. You will see many I mean many meme’s on Facebook about how to survive finals week(picture above). Everything will be more entertaining that studying, even staring into space. Then it is magically all over, you get to sleep and everything seems to be rainbows and butterflies. I hope everyone survived or is surviving finals week. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 

My College Decision

It is funny how the smallest things can change your life. The object that changed mine was a Penn State Barbie doll. I was six years old when I got it. My Dad was getting a master’s degree from one of the branch campuses near us. He went to hand in a paper and took me with him, and because I was such a good girl on the ride there he told me I could get something from the school store. That’s when I found my Penn State Barbie doll.

I loved this Barbie! Of course, I wanted to be like my Dad and Barbie so I decided at my Dad’s graduation that I was going to Penn State University.  For years to come I always said I was going there even before I figured out what a great school it is.

Once, I hit my tween years I grew out of Barbie’s and I forgot about Penn State.

Then the time came when I started to look into different options for college. I applied to a lot of different school and had to make my decision where to go. It was a very hard decision for me because I once again I fell in love with Penn State but I was scared to move so far away from home.  I even had to make a pro and con list because my top two schools I wanted to go to were so different and great in their own way. I felt hopeless I loved both schools so much but for vastly different reasons.

Then everything changed because I randomly found my Penn State Barbie doll. I had not seen it for years and then all of a sudden when I had to make this huge decision, it was there. After, I found that Barbie I knew I had to take the leap of faith and move away from home.

Finding that Barbie doll was my aha moment where I knew Penn State is where I wanted to be.

Finding your Freshman Roommate

In choosing your freshman roommate you have three options, get a random roommate, choose a friend or find someone on Facebook. The truth is there is no correct or best way to choose a roommate. Every one of these choices is a gamble.

When I was deciding how I was going to get my roommate for freshman year I had no idea what to do. So I am going to give you the good the bad and the ugly stories of me and my friends experiences.  I hope it helps you with finding your new roommate for your freshman year.

These are all true stories!

Scenario one: The Classic Random Roommate.

(Chelsea and Chrissy’s Story)

This is my story I have went for the random roommates twice. I choose to go for a random roommate in the summer and fall of my freshman year. My summer roommate and I had a very civil relationship we talked a little but at the end of the day we did not have much in common. I am currently living with my second random roommate Chelsea. Chelsea and I get along very well. We talk a lot and sometimes we even have what we call a “roomie dinner” which is ordering a lot of Papa Johns. Even though she is a Pittsburg fan and I am a Philly fan we get along really well. We have learned to live together and have become really close. She is the one person I cannot hide anything from because I live with her.  We don’t hang out much outside of our room but I think that it is good because we are not constantly hanging out with each other. Spending all your time with someone might just drive you crazy.

(John and  ???’s Story)

My friend John over the summer did not start on the right foot with his roommate. They did not like each other at all. The room was extremely quiet and nobody talked in the room. They made it through the summer but it was pretty awkward.

Scenario two: Choosing a friend from home

(Jane and Rachel’s Story)

My friend Jane roomed with her mutual friend from high school Rachel. It started out really good but then Jane started hanging out with her new friends from college and Rachel stays in and watch Netflix all the time. Therefore, Rachel is clinging onto Jane and it is causing real problems in their relationship.

 Scenario Three: Finding someone on Facebook

(Emily and Mary’s Story)

My friend Emily found her roommate for freshman year on Facebook. The met in person once before they decided to be roommates. Everything was going great they texted a lot before school started and they even decorated the room together.  During the first week of school everything was great but then her roommate Mary got a boyfriend and Emily and Mary’s relationship drastically changed.  Mary’s entire personality changed because of her new boyfriend. All of the sudden she wanted control of everything. She would freak out if the room was messy at all. She would use my friend for her coffee and T.V. One time she even yelled at my friend for using the T.V. The horror story never ended with this roommate. Emily also had to deal with a third roommate because the boyfriend was constantly over their room.

(Emily and Emilie’s Story)

Two of my good friends live together their names are Emily and Emilie. They meet on Facebook and are now best friends. They hang out with each other all the time. It puts some stress on their relationship spending so much time together but at the end of the day they are best friends and love living together.

There is good and bad for all the situations. I hope these stories can help you make this decision.

Best of Luck!

-Chrissy

ChrissyPSU@gmail.com