Away from the classroom

Though academic work at Centre is definitely time consuming, I've been able to comfortably enjoy the social atmosphere that the college presents. It didn't take much time to form a group of friends who I now feel are some of the best I've ever had. Naturally, the people on my dorm hall, those who I live with, have become my closest peers, but I've found others through classes, social gatherings, sports, etc. I've found that actually living with others my age makes it almost impossible not to form close bonds because I'm around these people almost constantly.

Most of my friends and I share a love for sports, so we enjoy running out to the campus lawn to toss around a football or going down to Sutcliffe (the fitness center) to play basketball in the gym. We put together an intramural soccer team, and although the team didn't win very many games, we had a great time. If we're really feeling active, then we'll head down to Sutcliffe to lift weights and work out, but we usually find an excuse to avoid running on the treadmill. Most of us really enjoy watching sports too, and this fall has provided countless opportunities for us to sit down and watch an exciting game. Watching events like the World Series, college football, and the NFL have occupied most of our time, but now basketball season is heating up as well. If we want to see a game in person, then we can head over to a Centre basketball game and root for our friends on the team.

Weekends at Centre are always a good time. After sleeping late to recover from the school week and getting the unpleasant homework out of the way, I'm always ready to buckle down for some free time. Whether it's playing video games with the boys, watching a movie with my girlfriend, or heading out for the night, there's always something to do. The parties are not occupied solely by a stereotypical group of people; you can usually find everyone out and about on a Friday or Saturday night. Alternatively, I've made the short trip to Lexington several times with my friends on weekends, and there we have all the options we could possibly want.

Also very important to me during my time at college is creating time for religious activities. I generally go to the Catholic church in Danville, which is located near Centre's campus, as are most of the main churches in the city. On Sunday nights, I always attend "Get Centred," which is oftentimes the highlight of my week. The service is unlike an ordinary church session. It's held in the Presbyterian church right next to campus, and on the night of the service, the sanctuary is lit completely by candlelight. The bells toll while students flow in, and at 10 p.m. the worship starts. It's held in a very meditative style, with repeated hymns and periods of silence and scripture readings. It truly does help me feel stable as I set off on a new week.

So, I've managed to make good use of my time away from the classroom. As the term draws to an end, and the coursework becomes ever more grueling, I've learned to value every bit of free time that I get. Centre certainly provides me with plenty of options.