9 Days and Counting!

Nine days until spring break and mid semester exams and projects are really picking up.  Next Friday I have an exam in both Chemistry and Sociology.  I already took my mid semester exam in Anthropology and Physics.  We also had a research paper and project in Sociology.  I feel pretty confident about my classes so far, although I may end up getting a tutor for Physics simply because my brain don’t wrap itself around Physics very well!

I think in the past few weeks I have really found my rhythm again.  When I came back from Winter Break I had a hard time adjusting to school and being away from home again.  In the past few weeks I have again gotten to the point where I am ahead in my work and efficient in how I work (I say this as I am using this post to procrastinate on doing homework for Friday…).  Although I will always miss home because that is where my family is and where I feel truly comfortable, Grinnell is a pretty darn great place too.  I think struggling to adjust here at Grinnell has brought me closer to friends here and I sit here doing homework with three girls from salsa, two of whom I met just two months ago when they came back from abroad. 

Over the past few weeks I have also gone through the process of applying to be a student advisor next year.  Student advisors (or SAs) are our equivalent of RAs at other schools.  SAs have no disciplinary responsibilities and serve as a resource for students in their dorm and work to build community and teach about self gov.  The application process consisted of an application with a few short answer essays, a letter of recommendation, an individual interview, and a group interview.  We were informed about a week ago of our positions.  I was not accepted as a full SA but rather an SA at large.  This means that I will help SAs in my dorm.  If another SA goes abroad or is unable to continue holding the position, one of the SAs at large will move into that dorm and become the student advisor of that dorm.  One of my good friends got accepted as a full SA and I am so excited for her!  We were going to room together, but I guess since we both will have singles (albeit on opposite sides of campus) we will just have to hang out in each other’s rooms!  I have also talked to several first years on the Softball team who plan on living on the same floor as me, and a few other girls are talking about trying to get a four person cluster a floor below me!  I’m sure I will be busy regardless of who is rooming where!

Next week the temperature is supposed to be in the mid-50s to 60s and I’m pretty sure it is going to feel like summer after our -30 degree (with windchill) day a few weeks ago!  Needless to say, I’m pretty sure everyone here has spring fever and is more than ready for a break!