Centi-post!

Wow, post number 100! Thought I'd reach this sooner, but since I took the whole summer off I guess I shouldn't be too surprised!

For some reason, I have been thinking a lot lately about school. My time in school. College, to be specific. It always happens around this time of year. Maybe it's because of the start of the school year, or maybe it's because I am anxiously awaiting girls weekend, I don't know. I just look around me and I see campus in September, with the leaves changing and the bells playing. That is my absolute favorite memory of WPI. I had an 8:00 Calc 1 class for my very first class freshman year. It was a beautiful day, and as I walked to class across the quad I took it all in-the students, the scenery, the sounds of the bells. It was so great-I knew I had so much ahead of me. So much to learn, both in the classroom and out.

I really feel that those 4 years defined me. Not that they necessarily reflect my best times, but they molded me to who I am. College is where you learn to be you. All on your own. As you can tell from my title-I am a bit of a geek. OK, maybe a big geek. Numbers have always fascinated me, but I digress. The choices I made while in school have led me down the path I am on now. Sometimes I wonder where I would be if I had made different decisions, but I always arrive at the same conclusion-I am exactly where I should be.

I learned how to organize myself and multi-task. Pretty important when you only have 7 weeks to complete a class. I learned how to work in groups. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow. Sometimes your group hates you because you went to a concert instead of lab. I learned how to be a part of an organization. Sorority meetings. Protocol. Roberts Rules. I learned how to earn your place and to be proud of your accomplishments. Only the top 20% make Tau Beta Pi. How to lead a team. Volleyball captain, although not sure how much leadership I showed. I learned how to cook without burning the house down. But boy was that a close one! Where the best parties were on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights. And how to accurately toss a ping pong ball into a plastic cup. Came in handy about 2 years ago when I played again with Karen-was it 7 games in a row we won?

Most importantly, I learned how to make real friends. The kind that will stay sober so they can walk you home and hold your hair. And they don't mind because they know you will do it for them next weekend. The kind that will call any girl fat and ugly, just because she looked cross eyed at your boyfriend. The kind you still go away with on girls weekend every year! The kind you just can't get through life without. Maybe because we have too much dirt on each other....

I guess I am just feeling thankful for the course my life has taken. It all centered on that one decision to go to Worcester for school. Because of WPI, I have the most wonderful friends. I have a great job. I have a husband and family I adore. Oh yeah, and an education that will last me a lifetime.

Kristin