As practice and school get underway, freshman Adrianne Perry helps us understand what her first few weeks were like.
It is October 3rd and man this year is just flying by. It seems like Alicia Hatcher and I just moved into the dorm the other day. College has been a blast so far. It has been really fun meeting new people in the dorms and in the athletic department. School is beginning to get more stressful. Professors are assigning more homework and important exams are coming up.
I am still trying to adjust to the college lifestyle; it is so much different than high school. In high school, I was in classes all day from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., then gymnastics practice from 3:00-7:00 p.m. and then I coached from 7:00 -8:00 pm. After a long day of school and gymnastics I would go home and eat and do homework. Even though I would only study for about an hour or two at most, it was enough to get by with A's and B's. College is a whole other story, though. It still feels strange only having class for two or three hours a day. After the first few weeks of school I came to the realization that I didn't have very good studying habits. I am working really hard in my classes and I am in study hall for EIGHT HOURS A WEEK. Hopefully I will figure things out eventually.
I get stressed during the week because I am so busy with school, gymnastics and studying. Sometimes I feel like my head is spinning but it is all worth it. I live for the weekends because I get to sleep in two days in a row. Gymnastics is going great. We just finished our second week of official workouts and I think our team as a whole looks awesome. Everyone is practicing with positive attitudes and I think we are on the right track for success. I am so excited for the upcoming meet season. I was worried about the transition from club gymnastics to college, but I love it. I get along great with everyone on the team and they have made me feel welcomed and comfortable. The girls are a lot of fun to be with. Hatcher and I are the only freshmen on the team and we have been best friends the last four years. Having her here with me has made my transition from high school to college much easier. I am also originally from Columbia, so I also have the support of my family close by, which is kind of nice at times.
Sunday morning, our team volunteered to hand out water during a half marathon. The half marathon benefited a shelter that provides advocacy services and support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. I was dreading having to get up at 6:30a.m. on a Sunday, but once I got there I was glad to be help out and cheer for the runners during the race. That is about it. Everything is going great now, and I can't wait to see how the rest of the year unfolds.
GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!