When A Door Closes

Believe it or not, this week marks the end of an amazing summer. It's gone by so quickly. With my jobs, dance, and new friends, this summer is probably one of the best I've ever had.

It feels like so much is coming to an end so quickly. My last dance classes were Wednesday evening; I am going to miss my little (and big!) dancers so much.  It came as a surprise when my summer dance team suddenly disbanded a couple weeks ago. It’s strange to me that we've already had our last practice, but I am so glad I had the opportunity to dance with those girls!

This weekend was also the end of my summer job, for a couple months anyway. It may sound strange, but I actually liked my job. It's been exciting to learn something new each day and to interact with customers and other associates.  I have really enjoyed it!

I’ve had so many great opportunities this summer that I hadn’t thought would be possible, like traveling to Europe for instance.  Watching those doors close is a bit overwhelming…

But my light at the end of the tunnel is going back to Ball State. It feels just as much like home to me as my real home. I'm most excited to see my friends I've missed so much this summer. I'm ready to go back to CRU, ballroom dancing, MCOB activities, and football games. I'm even looking forward to dorm rooms, dining halls, and new classes (only a little).  Plus, there are so many new experiences awaiting me that I don’t even know about yet!

So you see, as disheartening as the end of summer can be, there is still so much to look forward to in the fall.  You know, they say when a door closes, a window is opened somewhere else.  Things are changing, but in the most exciting ways!  Don't worry though, I'll still be Dancing Through Life. You can count on that!

Less Than A Month

For most college students, school starts in less than a month. We will all be heading to our respective universities in a flurry of packing, moving, and unpacking. There will be some tears and much celebration. One life gets left behind, while another is just beginning.

Many of you are excitedly preparing for your first year of college. And if you’re not excited, you should be! I won’t waste time telling you how awesome that first year is, because you can read the rest of my blog for that. But I will share a story with you…

Last night, a friend of mine texted me with a question about buying textbooks for school. She has a friend coming to Ball State for their first year and wanted advice about getting books. There are SO many options; it takes awhile to figure out what works best for you.

My first semester, I made the mistake of buying all my books from the school bookstore – if you want to spend more money than you have to, do it that way. Honestly, it was much easier, but not really worth the expense. The next time around, I took the time to research the best price, saving myself around $200. Finding used books or rentals is really the best way to go. Unless you plan to keep your books, RENT THEM! My personal preferences are Chegg.com and Amazon, and the BSU bookstore when necessary.

Of course, those are just my thoughts on the matter. Maybe some upperclassmen readers can give us their advice? Ultimately though, you just have to figure out what works best for YOU.