This weekend was a Show-Me weekend, I realized as I was walking back from the library Saturday morning. There were masses of parents and prospective students hanging on every word their group leader said. As I quickened my pace to make it into Vandiver before the herd, I caught myself remembering those tours and how no amount of questions could really give me a clear picture of what living on campus is like, so here’s a synopsis of a typical day for me on campus:

My alarm goes off at 7:30 and I am so glad today is Wednesday and I have my 9:00 class instead of my Tuesday/Thursday 8:00 class. I never knew that 8:00 could be so early. I took an early class in the mornings for most of my high school career that began my day at 6:47 every morning, but now, 8 o’clock seems unforgivably early. I live in a suite, so I only have to climb down from my lofted bed and walk ten feet to the shower. There’s no time (or space for that matter) to relax or dawdle in the shower, and I’m soon ready. I make a quick bowl of oatmeal in the microwave part of the micro-fridge I rented from the university. (It’s only $75 a semester and my roommate and I split that. I definitely recommend it.) I head out the door at 8:45, iPod already spouting music. I don’t take the elevator, too much of a gamble as to whether or not I’ll get the slow one, and it’s only a few flights. I love the walk to class. It’s virtually impossible to go anywhere on campus without passing underneath a tree. I pass the Kent Library fountain, loving the sound of rushing water and the faint smell of chlorine.

Class starts. I love this class; it is my honors SC105 class, Fundamentals of Oral Communication. The class is small and my professor is great. Dr. Williams really takes an interest in his students, and has even recommended me for an on campus job in the communications department as a resume builder. It would be a nice flexible job I could start sophomore year and have until I graduate. When class ends I head back to Vandiver to do laundry. I hope that today isn’t busy and that no one has forgotten about their laundry and left it in the washers or driers. It isn’t busy and there are only two, idle dryers with some forgotten towels and a load of whites. It takes thirty minutes to wash and forty-five to dry, so I work on some homework while my clothes wash, then head to the UC with some friends for a light lunch while it dries.

I get back to my clothes just in time. I fold them and then stop by my mailbox. The joy of getting mail is immeasurable. It can determine how the rest of my day goes. Unfortunately, all I have are a few fliers and a letter for my roommate. At least she didn’t get a package, because then I’d be really jealous. Upstairs, with laundry put away, I get ready for my next class, acting. I’m getting there early to rehearse the scene I am working on. It’s at the River Campus, so I grab my helmet. No, I am not so cool as to drive a motorcycle, or even a moped for that matter; I bike. It’s sometimes hard to get as much exercise in as I need, so usually (unless it’s unbearable cold and rainy) I ride my bike to the River Campus instead of taking the shuttle. It takes me about ten minutes to bike through downtown and get to campus. As I lock up my bike I gaze out over the river and enjoy for a few moments just how incredibly gorgeous this campus is.

I meet up with my partners and rehearse before class to prepare for rehearsal in class. Dr. Dillon is helpful with his comments and always available to help with work on a monologue and/or audition. Class ends and I bike back to campus. The rest of my evening is dedicated to studying, homework, and the possible open honors council meeting. Once all that is accomplished, I realize my craving for unlimited soft serve ice cream and a salad bar, and head to Towers Café for dinner.

That’s a fairly typical, uneventful day, which there have been few of in the past weeks actually. Big River the musical went up last weekend. Unfortunately, I wasn’t involved with the production, but I did get to see it. I am on the light crew for the Fall Dance Concert, which is a collection of student choreographed pieces, which will be going on this week, November 8, 9, 10. I will be working on the stage crew for Coyote Ugly this fall as well.

In other interesting news, because I am a Governor’s Scholar, I was able to register for classes early on October 29^th. I was able to fit into all the classes that I had planned out in my schedule, which is nice. A lot of freshmen aren’t going to be able to get into all the classes they want, because they don’t get to register until mid-November!

Also, this past weekend I went to Tennessee for the preliminary audition screenings for the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC). SETC is an enormous theatre conference where you can audition for hundreds of professional theatres to gain a job or an internship for summer stock theatre. There will be workshops for anyone that wants to attend, and you can hand out your resume to tons of employers. Technicians can also interview with professional theatres for jobs and internships. There are also auditions for dancers. Actors that are still in school are required to go through a screening process before the actual conference to keep the number of auditioners to a minimum. Unfortunately, I didn’t get passed on, but I was thrilled to have the chance to go. A lot of theatre departments don’t allow their freshman to go to those types of things, and some conservatories don’t even let their freshman actors perform at all their freshman year! I’m glad Southeast isn’t like that.

This past Saturday morning, I also participated in a Story-thon for my UI-100 class. We read books to 5-8 year olds to encourage a love of reading. It was pretty cool, but not a lot of kids were there. Hopefully the ones that were enjoyed it!

I’m excited because I was cast in a short student directed film called Single. We’re going to be working on it later on in the year, so I will keep you posted!

Oh, as for my picture, it’s by the fountain outside Kent Library. If you look at the water, you’ll notice lots and lots of white foam. I don’t know who did it, but someone poured lots and lots of soap and/or laundry detergent in on Friday night/Saturday morning!

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