I have been really thinking about my college experience lately. It’s this whole being a senior thing that has me reflecting on the past hardcore these days. I look at the little freshmen Rammies and think about how I used to be as a freshman. So excited to see what college has to offer, so eager to accomplish tons of things, and so not the person I ended up being a few years later. I’m not going to say “it feels like freshman year was just yesterday”, because it sure doesn’t feel like it. It has been a three and half year journey up to this point and it feels like I have gone through and done so many things in this time.

Sometimes I think about things I could have done differently during my time at CSU. What would have happened if I joined a fraternity? What would have happened if I never got the three part-time jobs that I have? What would my experience be like now if I remained a Graphic Design major? College really is what you make of it; there are a bujillion different paths one can explore during their undergraduate career.

I Don’t Bike, but I Can Stroll

As I was walking around campus after work and school one day this week, I found myself taking a stroll down the bike lane between Braiden and Eddy Hall. The recent renovations done on Braiden, as you’ll see in the video, really made me think back to my time in that residence hall. It was a horrible and awesome experience all at the same time. I made great connections, lost some connections, learned a lot, and grew tremendously.

I do sometimes think that I could have made a better effort to indulge and embrace the dorm experience during my time in Braiden, but it’s in the past now, and I regret nothing. But I will encourage those who will be finding themselves living in the residence halls sometime soon to try and savor the experience. There are some cool times that can only happen in those dorms.

For a closer look at the residence halls here at Colorado State University, come check them out in person or check them out online.

I can remember the good ole’ days when I was a freshman here at CSU: meeting tons of people in the residence halls, getting my longboard, sitting in large lecture classes for the first time . . . ah, what a year. I would have to say one of my favorite experiences freshman year was getting my Front Desk Assistant position at the Office of Admissions. It not only was the start of my acquisition of professional job experience, but it also started my college-cash-flow.

Welcome to Colorado State University . . .

If you’ve ever visited campus and taken one of the organized information sessions and tours, you may have seen me at the front desk. As an assistant to the wonderful Kim Klein, one of my responsibilities includes welcoming guests to the university and checking them in for the event. This job is a work-study position, and let me tell you, I am blessed to have it. Being able to do school work while you do your job is incredible. My two hours shifts each day give me plenty of time to catch up on homework or finish up an essay.

There are times, however, when things get a little hectic at the office. When the information sessions are filled to capacity (that’s 100 guests, sometimes more), we can get overwhelmed with all of the checking-in that has to happen. And there are times when people come into the office with unique or unusual admissions questions that require some serious problem solving or investigation. You’d be surprised what kinds of things people come to the front desk with, but between Kim and the amazing Admissions staff, business is always taken care of.

One thing that always makes the job a pleasure is meeting enthusiastic perspective students. You can just see the excitement beaming from their faces when they check-in, and considering how I’ve gone through one of CSU’s tours myself, I can appreciate this excitement all the more. Between the well-spoken Admissions Counselors, super zealous Admissions Ambassadors (tour guides), and the overall awesomeness of the campus, who wouldn’t want to come be a student at CSU?

Join the Club

If you haven’t visited CSU then I strongly encourage you to do so. If you’re having trouble deciding where to go or are uncertain about things, then an information session and tour can be extremely helpful in the decision process. All I know is CSU is a great university, and my job at the Office of Admissions has really put that into perspective for me. So if you’re curious, stop on by, we’d love to give you an official Ram Welcome! Till next week everyone, catch ya on the flip.

Today’s Song: “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Today is my last blog. I had a great time this semester, despite the fact that I always forget to take photos. I hope that I am not just writing to myself here, but if I am, I know at least I enjoyed my blogs. I’ve liked giving advice, even if no one will take it. And I’ve surprisingly never ran out of something to say (but that’s pretty much me all of the time). So here it is readers-who-may-or-may-not-exist, my last blog.

Let’s just sum this right up

From my very first, I’ve offered a song that I either can’t get out of my head or kind of actually fits with what I’m talking about, some random advice, a bit of myself twice a week every week. My experience has been a great one and frankly; I got seriously lucky on the job front. Who else goes to work and gets on Facebook (doesn’t count if you’re supposed to be doing something else), or blog about well, the randomness that I can be, and actually get paid for it? Not many people that I know of.

I waited and I got lucky.

I’ve been sarcastic, nostalgic, truthful, grumpy, cynical, happy, bored; all in my blogs. And I have loved it. I like to pretend that future freshmen are reading this and have gotten something from it. I like to pretend I have maybe prepared some for what CSU holds. What the real world holds outside of high school. I have not given every detail of what it is like to be me, but frankly, I believe I am keeping my readers sane by not.

So…I guess this is goodbye

Well…not exactly. No, Scripting Shelby, the freshman English Education major will not be writing to you next year. Because I’ll be a sophomore. That’s right, I’m still going to be here. Danny and Jack may be leaving you but I’m sure not. I’ll be back in June after my nice little vacation, with a bunch of stories and maybe actually some pictures!

I’ll be back, writing, giving advice, sharing random details of my life, and of course my favorite music. Because you know what? I love it here. I love working here, I love being here. This is my CSU.

Scripting Shelby: Signing off.

Today’s Song: “Heart Skips a Beat” by Lenka

It’s the end of another school year. My thirteenth to be precise. My freshman year was a mash-up of new people, new places, good times, bad times, family, friends, a new job, dorm food that was good but now I avoid at all costs, rigorous classes, and my own personal battle. And now it’s coming to an end. I can’t tell you if I will be hanging out with the same people next year, if I’ll get along with my new roommate, or if I’ll retain what sanity I have.

I can’t tell you and that’s not what this is about.

Let the good times roll

Today, I’ve been thinking over my first two semesters here at CSU. They’ve been pretty awesome. I’ve made good friends, and I’ve been able to both expand who I am and what I know. I’ve done a lot with my freshman year, and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’m proud of my GPA and I’m proud of the two “x’s” I’m sporting on my hands, and other parts of me after sleeping; from Sundance last night. I’m proud of what I now know, and I’m proud of what I have yet to learn.

Yes, I’m being nostalgic about the past year.

From moving into the dorms, to now having to get everything back home, I’ve had a wild ride. Whatever I was expecting, it wasn’t this. Maybe my experience was not the typical, or maybe it truly was. I don’t know, but it was mine. I’ve met great people in my classes, and everywhere else. I’ve done so much, going to Sundance, or taking a road trip to see O.A.R. on a random freezing weekend, or even just watching movies in my dorm room.

And you know what? I can’t wait to see what next year holds.

Until next time.

As May 14 creeps closer, my time at CSU is quickly coming to an end. What better way to celebrate graduation than to reminisce about all the good times I had? I’ll start at the beginning with my freshman year - I am also using this as an opportunity to test how good my memory is!

The dorms

I moved into room G211 in Corbett Hall on one of the hottest days of the summer. There is nothing better than moving furniture up stairs into a building without air conditioning, but luckily the dorm experience only got better from that point. 

I got sick of the dorm food by the end of the year, and there were times where I thought my roommate was going to drive me clinically insane, but I think everyone experiences those dorm moments. Overall, it was an experience that I’ll never forget, and I now find myself missing dorm food four years later.

My friends

I think I had one of the best floors possible. I had relaxed RAs and some made some long-time friends on my floor. Off the top of my head, I can name at least a dozen people from my floor that I still see regularly, and you can rest assured that we still exchange old dorm stories from time to time.

My best memories from that year aren’t from big spectacular events, but rather the small day-to-day interaction with my newfound friends. Walking to Consuelo’s for breakfast burritos, playing volleyball in the courtyard, biking to Old Town and trekking to Durrell Express for a late-night meal were among my favorite things to do.

Other favorite memories include:

• Dorm move-in day and playing the “name game” with everyone on my floor (I can still name 38 out of 40-some people!)
• My first autumn on campus and staring all the picturesque trees in The Oval
• My first time studying all night for a 7 a.m. final. – Then taking a nap and pulling another all-nighter. Don’t worry; I quickly re-evaluated my study habits after that
• My first time tailgating before a football game at Hughes Stadium
• My first winter break and moving back into the parents’ house. The home-cooked food makes up for the loss of freedom.
• Free comedy shows in the LSC
• Counting the tally marks at the end of the year that represented the number of time my suitemates locked me out of the bathroom.
• Playing Frisbee by the lagoon
• Switching my major from business to journalism, which is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

The wrap-up

The next two weeks will include more of my favorite memories from CSU, so stay tuned.