Summer camp

I still remember the beginning of my freshman year like it was yesterday, and this is not an exaggeration at all. It's so mind-boggling how quickly the year passed by. With the exception of major events, like pledging, spring break, etc., it all seems like a blur. One thing I do remember very clearly is orientation, or as I liked to call it—summer camp. I remember thinking how all of the assigned events and get-to-know-ya’s felt more like summer camp than the freedom of college (though this quickly ended once orientation was over).

As soon as orientation ended, the year sped by at what literally seemed like the speed of light. Ironically though, the end of the year seemed to bring everything full circle. When finals ended and senior week began, so did some of the most fun I’ve had all year. That time of the year also brought back the summer camp feeling again. As the days began to wind down, and I started packing up my dorm room, and the realization that school was actually over set in, I couldn’t help thinking that this is exactly how someone feels when summer camp ends. I was so excited to be going home to relax and spend time with my family. But at the same time, I knew it was going to be so weird leaving the people with whom I had spent the last nine months. Also, it was hard watching the oldest campers (a.k.a. the seniors) leave—I wonder what next year will be like without them, and having an in-coming class that is one year behind us.

One reason I was ready for school to be over was so that I could be back home to spend time with Louisville friends and family. Also, after many years of begging, my family finally decided to take a long-awaited trip to Europe (although I keep saying I won’t actually believe it until my feet step onto European soil). These quickly-approaching two weeks, that will be spent in four different countries, are literally a dream come true—partially because I’ve never been out of the US before, and partly because photos of the Mediterranean Sea and Sorrento have never been able to cut it.

On top of that, I’m going to be attending SAE Leadership School in August. This is something that I’ve heard so much about and can’t wait to experience. I’m also kind of anxious because it will be held on a cruise ship, which is again something I’ve never done before. My last big plan is to take a week long venture to volunteer at the Center for Courageous Kids, is a camp for children with medical challenges. This is something that some of my fraternity brothers have done or are currently doing and have said it's an amazing experience. In between my adventures, I plan on doing this little thing called work, a.k.a lifeguarding (I’m not sure “work” is the appropriate term for that) at the same pool I’ve worked at for the past four years. Just trying to stick with the Centre idea of "work hard, play hard."

So just as I described my feelings when packing up and leaving for college almost a year ago, the end of the year was extremely bittersweet. But as summer races by, I’ve realized it's not that hard to keep in touch with Centre folk (thank you technology), and I am about to experience what could be the best summer of my life; it's sounding like it's going to become a summer of firsts. No matter what, I can’t leave here without saying that college IS one of the best times of your life (at least that’s what freshmen year showed me) and Centre helps to keep that true.