I fall more in love

After two papers, three tests, numerous quizzes, countless hours of studying, and cross country practice every day, I am still alive and well. Tired?...yes. Stressed?...yes. Completely overwhelmed?...of course. Life, as I have known it for the past four years, has changed more than I ever imagined; the workload, the freedom, the extreme lack of sleep. But despite these things, I fall more in love with Centre College every day.

The professors here are amazing. Even on my drowsiest days, I'm compelled to stay awake through even my earliest classes because of the energy and excitement that fills each hour. If I'm having a problem with understanding a concept, or just need someone to talk to, I know that each one of my professors would be there for support. Subjects that I absolutely despised in high school have become interesting...even chemistry isn't so bad anymore...and that's something I thought I would never say!

I'm not going to lie, the workload, is a bit overwhelming, but I'm learning that college is what you make of it. What you put in, is what you get out—inside and outside of the classroom. Studying, for me, is a difficult thing. I have the attention span of a fly; I get distracted very easily. But in the past few weeks, studying has become an essential part of life. I'm learning if I just sit down, stop panicking about everything, and actually just do the work, then I reap the benefits. It takes discipline, and a lot of time but it's definitely worth it.

Running has also become an essential part of life; not only for cross country training purposes, but for keeping me sane! It's the part of the day when I can forget about school and just run. Not to mention the team has practically become part of my immediate family. Practice is full of laughing, talking, and spending time with some of the people I'm becoming closest to. Don't get me wrong, cross country, although we have a lot of fun, is another challenging part of each day. Training is rough. It's time consuming. Practices have been hot, they have been early, and they have lasted until dinner time. These conditions, I assume, are something that athletes at Centre adjust to: a balancing act of school, practice, eating, and sleeping (or lack thereof). For me at first, it was hard to find that equilibrium, but as the season continues, it just becomes a part of each day's routine.

So, my time at Centre essentially consists of school, running...and occasionally (and by occasionally I mean every day, twice a day) hanging out with friends. I couldn't have asked for a better roommate, and my friends already feel like family. I guess my brother being on campus could have something to do with that. But in all honesty, I don't know what I would do without them. Sounds kind of cliché, but it's the truth. All in all I basically just love Centre College. That's about it.