Back in...Orange

Well. I’m back at school. It sounds pretty boring. But it’s not.

I was here over the summer working at camp and let me tell you, being in a college town during months when it isn’t in fact a college town? That’s boring. It’s like a ghost town. So to be back with all the people amid all the new-school-year excitement is fun. And it’s a completely new year for me. Sure, the concept of going to class (good idea), staying out of trouble (also a good idea), and the atmosphere goings-on of the university itself stay virtually the same, but in a way I’m a new person this year.

For one, I’ve got some wheels under me this year. That's a pretty big and new adventure for those who know me. Over the past five years or so I’ve become a professional bum. Bumming rides off any and everyone who could and was willing to drive me. First and foremost to all those people, THANK YOU. I didn’t mind walking home from school or biking to and from work, great exercise, but to everybody who did bum me around that was very much appreciated. And in that way I hope to “pay off my debt,” as I keep referring to it, in driving everybody else around; a reversal of roles if you will. The whole “no car” situation was changed this summer when I was granted the great privilege of having a car to call my own. And what a grand upgrade over the matchbox car my parents gave me for Christmas two years ago as a joke. Ha. Ha. I received and promptly named Dennis, aka the Blue Jet, two days before I left to work for camp over the summer and it’s been awesome riding around town with all the babes checking out the sweet ride. Okay probably not but still it’s been pretty cool. My sister, when we drove the car home said I needed it to “spice up my life.” Not sure whether that was a compliment or an insult but thanks Beth? Living two miles off campus I figured I was in for another year of asking the roomies for rides and in general more bumming, so to not have to worry about all that has been a relief. Hopefully I can be as helpful and compassionate in the way of others without cars as my friends have been to me.

The fact that another school year is upon us is weird because it feels like the last one just ended. But I guess that’s how it goes. My dad keeps saying that the older you get the shorter the summers feel. I mean, good grief, I’m an upperclassmen now. And little brother and little sister are high school senior and high school freshman. Sheesh. Take me back to the time when Dan and I used to run in circles around the house in just our underwear (very long ago, I assure you) and Beth actually appreciated my presence in the room (Not that long ago. Teenagers…SMH). As I mentor Dan in the college selection process he’s got the one thing going for him in that he’s fast as all get out. So for colleges needing runners, there’s that. But it feels surreal knowing this time next year he’ll be off at college. Beth will be just fine at in her first year of high school. She made it this far living with us two snots for brothers so she’ll be fine with whatever high school throws at her. I try to talk to them as much as I can over the phone, even though I’m only an hour away, and get updates on both of their high school running careers frequently. Usain Bolt, watch out. (Editor’s note: I could (probably...maybe) still beat either of them in a race to the mailbox two over from ours.)

I’ll be in my second semester of major and concentration specific classes this fall and I’m really pleased and excited about that. The Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management major is kind of a tough one to explain but one I truly enjoy. I’ve learned the importance of green spaces and parks and risk management and meeting community needs and plenty else that more often than not people overlook and I’m pretty pumped to take that kind of work seriously for a career. I guess you could say I always liked to think outside the box. And this semester I’ve signed on to take both a class based on the foundations of camp counseling plus one in which I’ll get credit for simply showing up to my work when I do. Not too shabby.

Speaking of work, this summer I have worked at Clemson’s Outdoor Lab which officially qualified me as a double employee for the university. I went to our annual staff meeting for Clemson’s Athletic Communications Department (Still getting used to that. We used to be Sports Information.) today and it only reminded me how great of an opportunity I’ve been granted.  I’m looking forward to my third year in that department, although it does seem like a lifetime ago that I sat in my boss’s office talking about my possible employment there my freshman year. It is slightly frightening as I work the way up the ladder of elder student assistants, knowing that soon people will be looking up to me for assistance and knowledge. But I’ll make do with what I can and pray for the strength to tackle that which I think I can’t. Look at that. A sports pun. I’m a natural. Where you at, Robert Redford?

Like I mentioned I’m located two miles off campus this year and it may be that way for the foreseeable future if I stay with the same roommates for next year as well. We’ve decided we’ll look into that at a later time after we make sure we don’t first kill each other this year. We’re doing alright in that regard so far, and as I write this my roommate is literally standing over my shoulder calling me anything from Emily Dickinson to J.K Rowling because of my newfound blogging habits. We’ve had some great family dinners so far, cooking for each other and even coming up with a “Dinner of the Week” award. We’ve got all our traditional gameday rituals we perform before heading off to class each day and a phenomenal balcony which we’ve nicely settled into and spend most of our evenings on. #PorchLyfe. We’re aiming for the lowest electricity bill in the history of mankind and spend our times playing cards and board games. Oh, and we eat our dinners by candlelight. Call us romantics. Here’s to 506.

Finally, it’s great to be back among friends. And what a contingent I’ve got this semester. When you throw together friends from high school with friends I’ve made from being in clubs with friends from work with friends I’ve hung out with and lived around the past few years with friends I made this summer at camp, well that’s a whole collection of pals. And I’ve learned it’s kind of hard trying to please everybody and be in plenty of different places at once. But you can’t worry about the small things. Bob Marley once said “In every life we have some trouble, when you worry you make it double,” so I try to keep the worrying at a minimal these days. I’m just thankful to be back in such a great place making some terrific memories with amazing people. Once again, I’ve been very blessed to be around some truly tremendous people and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this semester and this year.

I never thought I'd say it but man, it’s good to be back at school.