I munch on cereal for breakfast every morning. I bundle up in winter wear every time I step outside. I peer into my mailbox every day after class. I spend every night doing homework in the study room downstairs when my roommate’s asleep. And I always look forward to making trips to the grocery store every weekend to stock up on supplies. I’m back to the same routine, after a month of hiatus during part of December and January. I’ve traded warm tropical Hawaiian breezes for the freezing arctic temperatures of Illinois.

There are times when I miss familiar faces and places, but going away to college has given me a chance to get away from my comfort zone to meet people with diverse experiences. I’ve resisted every urge to buy a one-way plane ticket home when I think about staying in Peoria to attend school at Bradley for another year, but I remember that I’ll be home for breaks in-between. I remember that I’m an adult and need to learn to fend for myself. Eventually, I’ll have to pay my bills when I land that dream job or support my family when I settle down. Family and friends may offer advice, but they won’t always be there to hold my hand through every experience I encounter. Moving 1,000 miles away from home was a hurdle, but I’ve survived so far with the support of family and friends. I’ve adjusted to living in the Midwest—compared to last semester, my first time away from home. This semester’s course load, however, seems heavier than last semester’s.

Spring semester began two weeks ago, but I have exams, group projects, and research papers lined up. I registered for six classes based on my advisor’s recommendation. But it was difficult to balance my schedule, because I finished most of my prerequisites and only upper-level classes remained. I scheduled classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, taking days off on Mondays and Fridays to finish homework, schedule interviews, and get ample rest. I decided a four-day weekend would be sufficient to tackle the weekly assignments and exams that occupy my schedule.

My Media, Race, and Gender class and Photojournalism class meet for two and a half-hours every Wednesday. Last week in the media class, we discussed issues of diversity in the media with authors of our textbook via video conferencing. This week, we’ll have class discussions about readings in the text. Every week for my photojournalism class, I’m required to have 36 candid images of strangers on a specific theme. It’s been a struggle to approach strangers with a camera, let alone find themes I haven’t covered yet. Plus, the images must be shot off campus, so I’m at a disadvantage without a car to explore the rest of Peoria. But I think meeting the challenge will be excellent practice for the real world.

I’m also taking Communication Theory, taught by a friend’s favorite professor. My friend recommended the class, but I also heard negative reviews from other students. My roommate promised to join me in a different class with the same professor, but she dropped out at the last minute. Other friends backed out, too. I was intimidated until the professor said he was aware of his reputation. He told everyone in class to keep an open mind—I have, and I’m enjoying his class so far. My other classes include Intermediate French, Principles of Microeconomics and Computer-Assisted Reporting. I’m eager to explore spreadsheets and databases to assist in investigative reporting.
Friends have begun making plans for the summer and upcoming academic year. I imagine spending my summer reporting for a newspaper or magazine, drawing attention to distinct personalities of the public and raising awareness about issues like global warming. Next semester, I’ll share ideas and experiences to enhance my campus newspaper visually and content-wise.

Until I land an internship, my plans for the summer and future remain uncertain. But I’m eager about the apartment I’ll be sharing with three friends next year. Since the apartments are open all year I’ll no longer have to worry about finding a place to stay for Thanksgiving, fall, winter, and spring breaks, when residence halls close. I’ve also begun my search for cheap flights home for spring break. It’s only one week away from school, but I’m looking forward to it.