Finally back at the apartment in Fort Wayne with my favorite girls! This weekend was a blast, but now its back to the basics!

I don't know why, but the fact that I started class a week ago really hasn't kicked in yet. I've been doing my assignments, but my mind remains in "summer break" mode. Feeling as if this is my most difficult semester ahead, I'm getting somewhat nervous!

My music therapy class--I LOVE it! My professor is so energetic & is full of fun & jokes! Music Therapy is the first class I've taken that I don't actually need to go towards my major and it feels great to be in this class. After taking so many serious classes that your life depends on, it's good to have a class to relax in.

Nutrition is a class I'm required to have for my nursing degree. I do enjoy this class because I like learning about things that can affect my health, but I feel like this class will require some work! English W233, an upper level English course required for many majors, is a class I'm a tad worried about. Surely many other students feel this way about english period! When I came into college I didn't feel fully prepared for college writing, but passed my english class last year with a B! My english professor really cares about helping students so I'm pretty sure I will make it.

Those three classes are ones that I'm not especially worried about, but there is one that is on my mind everyday- Pharmacology! I discussed my journey through my Biology 204 class over the summer, and although it was difficult I made it through with a B; Pharm. is a whole different ball game! I'm used to going through notes at a rapid pace due to completing a semester's worth of work in 6, yes 6 weeks, in Biology. Thinking Pharm. would go at about that pace, I felt prepared, but maybe I'm not. :) We've finished 50 pages of notes within three days (It's a TWR class). This is nothing that I'm used to nor have I ever had to do in any class. The material isn't different, but it goes so quickly! I will be working twice or even three times as hard, but I will succeed! The thought of my first exam scares me, but I shall not let it defeat me!

I hope everyone's first week went well! As I always say, just stay focused! Make sure to not be afraid to ask for help. One thing I noticed my freshmen year was that staff at IPFW are very willing to help you IF you make the effort to ask for help. We have good professors, but they're not mind readers. :)

Posted by Rachel at 8:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm sitting in Marion at my mom and dad's house thinking about how AMAZING the concert was last night!

For those who didn't know, I attended the America's Most Wanted Tour last night! Soulja Boy, Young Jeezy, LIL WAYNE, and several artists on Lil Wayne's Young Money Cash Money label were there! They're all rap artists....I listen to rap and R&B with some occasional rock songs.

I left Fort Wayne right after I got out of class at 2:30 on Friday, arrived in Marion at 3:20 & was on my way to the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville by 5:00! Attending Lil Wayne concerts will eventually be a tradition for my cousins, best friend, and I! This was my second time seeing Lil Wayne in concert, and it was just as exciting as the last.

Soulja Boy performed first, then Young Jeezy, then the headliner- Lil Wayne. I didn't really care for Soulja Boy's performance, but I do dance to his music at parties so I still vibed to the music. :) If you can't tell by reading this already, Lil Wayne is my favorite music artist! He is a lyrical genius, and I love how you have to read between the line to understand some of his lyrics. He is such a good performer & seems to really care about his fans. Loving every moment of his performance, I sang just about every song! If I didn't know the words, I hummed the tune until words I knew came about again! If anybody's wondering, I didn't cry....but tears did come to my eyes! The excitement of the crowd was undescribable; I never plan to miss any of his concerts in Indiana!

The only disappointment was one of the newest artists signed to Lil Wayne's label, Drake, was unable to perform at the concert because of an injury. I was saddened by the news of his injury, but still rocked out at the concert and had the best time ever!

But of course....all good things must come to an end, and now I'm back into what I call my "geek mode" for my Pharmacology class! If you've ever heard this class was hard....whoever told you was NOT telling a lie! Pray for me! Some of Wayne's lyrics are inspirational to me, and I keep this one in mind when I'm having a hard time....

"I don't FANTASIZE--I MASTER mine--then go after mine!"- Lil Wayne

Posted by Rachel at 8:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, let the work begin!

I began my day early, around 8 AM, at the gym. Yes, I know 8 probably sounds super early, but I never got out of getting up this early everyday since my summer course! Working out with a bum ankle isn't easy, so I've been skipping the treadmill & riding the bike!

My classes begin at 12 & don't end until 4. Three, 1-hour & fifteen minute classes in a row don't sound very appealing, but it's actually not that bad! By choice, my schedule wouldn't be this way, but it's just the way they had to be this semester. The only class I actually began work in was pharmacology, which I expected! Again, I'm already at the conclusion pharmacology will be my hardest class of this semester, but I'm ready to work hard!...I think! ;) I also have some reading to do in my Nutrition & English classes, but that's not bad at all!

I'm so geeked--excited-- about my music therapy class! This is the first class I've had that I think I will be able to really relax in AND enjoy myself! My professor has so much energy; she's awesome already! All of my professors have had tons of jokes already so I'm thinking this is going to be the best semester of my college career yet!

I hope everyones' classes are going well! If you're a freshman and still have anxiety about classes, it will disappear shortly, I promise! Just relax, stay focused, study hard, & you'll make it!

Posted by Rachel at 9:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today was the first day back to class, but it didn't feel like it to me! I only had one class, music therapy, and then I was done! My Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays will be easy, but of course I'll be using the extra time to study for my Tuesday & Thursday Classes. Having 3 classes in a row on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be a challenge since they're an hour & fifteen minutes long! But that's how my schedule had to be, so I'm going to make it work! On the other side, having no early classes feels like a blessing....I either start at 1:30 or 12, which is nice! Pharmacology will most likely end up being my most difficult class of the semester, but I won't let it defeat me!

Although I will be a busy bee, I'm so excited that classes have started again! Campus life is fun when all of the other IPFW students are here. Make sure to check out the welcome back week events; today I SMASHED Nelson's Chicken & got a free t-shirt! :)

After my interesting ONE class of the day, I met up with my little sister. (If you didn't know, I'm now part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.) We just chilled at the mall and fed our faces at Panda Express. I've never had a real little sister, so I'm enjoying the experience so far.

I'll be updating you all to let you know how what I like to call my "Real" first day of classes goes! If you see me around campus, don't be afraid to say hello!

Posted by Rachel at 8:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It feels so good to be back in Fort Wayne! I left early, yesterday morning around 7:30. I'm no longer staying in student housing, and am now living in a different apartment complex with three of my friends. I'm excited to be staying with them, but I know it's going to eventually be a challenge! Good news is, my cousins lives above me , so if I need to get away I can always sneak upstairs! :)

I really can NOT believe classes begin next Monday! My mom & I went to the bookstore yesterday; the bookstore is so busy around this time, so I figured I should get all of my books before student housing move in tomorrow. School supply shopping is complete, so I'm set & ready to go! Although I've been in school for all of these years, I'm still nervous the first fews days of classes, especially since this is only my sophomore year. New classrooms & new buildings are always nerve racking, but I'm sure I will be fine

I'm working at Freshmen Fest this Friday, so I hope you see some of you incoming freshmen there! :)

Posted by Rachel at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here is is, 7:08 in the morning on a Sunday, and I'm WIDE awake! I didn't go to sleep early enough to be full of energy at this time of day, but I think it's because I'm excited to move out! Today, my parents are coming to help me move since all of my things wouldn't dare fit in my neon! Living in student housing for my freshman year was one of the best decisions I made. I always tell incoming freshmen to at least stay on campus for your first year! It makes meeting people so much easier, and the RAs are always hosting different events so residents can get out of the books for a while and relax. Another plus is, you, as a student, are RIGHT across the street from class! No worries about driving across town and hoping you make it on time. Driving or walking to school takes no time, but it does take time to get used to walking the bridge! :) If I would have stayed somewhere else my first year, I'm sure I would have missed out on a lot of fun considering the great people I have met.

I am moving out of student housing because I've become a person who somewhat likes to try new things, and I like becoming more independent. I will be rooming with three of my friends; two I've known since elementary, and the other was my best friend's roomate. I know it sounds kind of crazy for four girls to be living together, but I think it will go well! Next year I'll probably move again--I'm not ready to be stationary! :)

If you were wondering how my Big Brothers Big Sisters program is going--it's better than I expected! I've spent time with my little sister twice since we've met a few weeks ago. I don't have any real sisters younger than me, so hanging with someone 5 years younger than me takes some getting used to. She seems to be enjoying herself, and so am I! I'm so glad I took on this opportunity, and I encourage others to do so as well. If not Big Brothers Big Sisters, take part in an organization on campus! We have so many to choose from, and if you don't see one that fits your style, get some friends together and create one. Trust me, being involved on campus will make the college experience way more enjoyable than if you were to go to class, go to the library, and come home every day!

Posted by Rachel at 7:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday, I completed my LAST final for my Bio. 204 class! As I went over my materials before the test, it seemed like things were still coming to me too easy...In this class I worry when things seem too easy; it makes me think I haven't learned it correctly! At 10:10 am my professor passed out the scantron sheets and exam packet. Nervously taking a look at the first few questions, I realized I had the answer key! I know, it sounds like a blessing, but no, I didn't keep it, immediately rushing it back up to the front of the class. Fellow classmates laughed when they realized what happened, and many looked at me as if I were crazy! I felt like I was fully prepared for the test anyway, so I didn't care. Finally, I received my test packet with NO circled answers, and began. 52 question exams always scare me, but I went quickly through the exam with ease. (I just KNEW I did well!)

Last night, I checked my professor's website for my final grade; I received another 88% on the exam, and a B for my final grade! You all do not realize how ecstatic I am about this grade. I honestly believe this is the biggest accomplishment of my college career! Taking a college course, squeezing 16 weeks into 6 weeks wasn't something I desired to do, but I had to get it out of the way to get other course in over the next two semesters. And here I am, finally relaxing in my living room with no class to go to, no open labs, and a B in Biology & Physiology 204. This just proves that no matter what people say about a course OR a professor, sometimes you just need to see for yourself. I made it, and so can anyone else. :)

Posted by Rachel at 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I only have one day of Bio. 204 and I will be finished! It's unbelievable how fast this six weeks has gone, and here I am, studying for my 4th & final test for the class!

Yesterday, I took my last practical for Bio....I studied for it much of last week, and really hit the book hard on Monday! The bad part was, the material still wasn't sitting quite right for me. The previous week, my lab instructor taught us alot of new vocabulary, and it seemed impossible that I would master so many blood vessel names and fetal circulation in a short week. I attended all of the open lab sessions, basically like tutoring. Anyone in the Biology class can go in during the designated times and practice with the lab models, and ask for help if needed. Although I spent a heavy amount of time reviewing, I felt extremely nervous!!

Finally Tuesday morning arrived; I hopped out of bed early so I would have a good time frame to review before going into the classroom. While waiting in the hall, students in the previous class walked out and said, "It was easy!". Honestly, I'm not one to take others words on something, so I didn't get my hopes up too high. As I went around the different stations, the questions didn't seem too difficult, which was a good sign. Afterwards, I called my mom and told her that it was easier than I thought it was going to be, but I still didn't feel as if I did as good as I could have. My mom, also known as my best friend, said, "All you can do is your best."--And yes I said my best friend. Your mom should ALWAYS be your best friend! :)

After waiting all day, until 9 PM, I checked my instructors website for my grade....with one eye opened. I finally scrolled to my ID number, and saw an 88 for Lab practical 2! All the worrying I did, and I got a B+! I am truly proud of myself. They, whoever "they" are, always say, "Expect the worst, hope for the best."

It's time for me to get back to studying for my last final, though. An update will be up tomorrow night, or Friday morning! Hope everyone is beginning to get back into their "college mood". It's almost here!

Posted by Rachel at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)