Ramblings of a Bored College Student

     I thought I had something to write, so I opened this up.  And now I realize I don't have anything to write.  At least, nothing you'd be interested in reading, anyway.  Not that there's anyone out there, but still.

     Remember back when I was a junior in high school?  When my blog was updated almost every single week at least once just because I had so much to say?  It's been two and a half years, and I've had so many experiences and have grown so much since then.  And now I have even less to say.

     Maybe it's because it was an assignment back then, so I knew I needed to write.  Or maybe I've just spilled out everything of interest onto these documents now, so everything left inside my head is fairly worthless in Blogville.

     Or maybe I'm just not trying hard enough.

     I could write about how different this semester has been for me.  It's been harder than I expected it to be--harder than I think even last semester was, and that was my very first time in college.

     I could write about how much I miss being in a Spanish class.  That's been on my mind lately, especially since I've had multiple dreams about my Spanish classes in high school.

     I could write about my awesome roommates, both previous and current.  They're all pretty dang cool, so it wouldn't be hard.

     I could write absolute nonsense.  I could totally make up a story and you'd have no reason to not believe that it was real.

     I could write about how lonely I feel.  I can assure you, that would not be a short post.

     But what do I do?  I write about what I could be writing about.  And if that doesn't sum me up, I don't know what does.

     And yet, somehow those few paragraphs were far more therapeutic than anything else I've written in a good long while.
     "So count your blessings every day.  It makes the monsters go away.  And everything will be okay.
     "You are not alone.  You are right at home.  Goodnight."

Mis Amigos

     What?  Two posts in one week?  What is this, 2016?
     No, I'm just bored and don't want to study for my psychology exam, so I figured I'd write.  It's a healthy coping mechanism, I'm sure.
     Today's one-sided discussion: why our circles of friends change.
     So, I had a solid five best friends throughout elementary school, plus others scattered throughout.  My best friend was Diana.  We were in the same class from first to fifth grade, and we also went to church together.  We hung out almost every single Friday throughout the school year, and then pretty often throughout summers and off-tracks as well.
     Savannah and I were also very close.  We had first, third, fourth, and sixth grade together.  I didn't hang out with her as much as I did with Diana, but we still did so.  She also went to church with me.
     Diana, Savannah, and I were all very close, and it seemed like that bond would last forever.
     I also had Katie, Amanda, and Nathan, plus a few others that I was friends with off and on.
     When it came to junior high, Savannah went to Jefferson, which most kids from Beehive Elementary went to.  Diana was planning on going to Bennion, and after considerable thought, so did I.  The three of us managed to remain close to each other, mostly through church, but I think we were a little oblivious to the fact we were still growing apart.
     However, in junior high, Diana and I started to separate a bit.  There was a moment when it seemed everything was going to collapse, but we worked through it.  But we were finding new friends, and that was okay.
     My group in junior high consisted mainly of Bailey, Alida, and Payton.  Especially during ninth grade, we were nigh inseparable.  Bailey eventually became my best friend.  I was also close to Miranda, Kaitlynne, Darcy, Sarah, and Kassidy.  As ninth grade progressed, I suddenly began doubting if I really wanted to go to Kearns instead of Taylorsville with my new friends.  Ultimately, I chose the latter, and I've never really looked back.
     In high school, I remained close to Alida (who then became my best friend) and Bailey, and I grew closer to Jacquie and Kamerin, and then made friends with Sophie and Brandon.  Those six are the ones I consider my overall best friends.  I still was good friends with Kaitlynne and Kassidy, and I had plenty of other friends as well, especially my senior year.
     Now that I'm in college, I'm still in contact with quite a few, plus friends I made at work as well.  But, my close friends are mostly just my roommates: Heidi, Hannah, Kris, and Alexus.  I don't even really have friends in my classes.
     Anyway, now to the point:
     What made it change?  What made Diana my elementary best friend, Bailey my junior high best friend, and Alida my high school best friend?  It's not as if I'd moved or had fallen out of contact with them.  But somehow, there was a change.
     I think we all experience something similar at some point in our lives.  I know in movies and books, the protagonist often has the person who's been their best friend since toddler-age, but I've never seen that in real life.
     Outward factors can offer explanations.  If someone moves, it's obviously more difficult to keep up a friendship.  If someone turns into a bully or starts doing things the other person doesn't agree with, that can cause a riff.
     But I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we ourselves change.  In elementary, Diana was the perfect playmate, and we both loved reading and being smart.  But we were opposites in a lot of ways, so I think we balanced each other out.  In junior high, though, as I was growing into the sarcastic, clever person I am today, Bailey and I played off each other more perfectly than I could've ever hoped.  And then in high school, Alida and I needed to entertain and strengthen each other, and we did it every single day.
     Now that I'm in college, there doesn't seem to be as much of a need for that one best friend.  Last semester, it definitely was Jacquie, and this semester probably goes to Hannah, but I feel like I've grown close to all of my roommates, both from last semester and this semester.  It's interesting how much it's become more of a need to have people to fall back on rather than a few people who I spent the majority of my time with.
     I feel like this is a good time to mention that I'm wearing sunglasses as I type this, even though I'm inside and it's 9:42pm.  I just needed to feel cool for a bit--you do it your way, I'll do it mine.
     Regardless of the reasons or the necessity or the desire, we all need friends.  And if you don't think you have any, reach out because I'm sure you do.  And if you really, truly don't, you've got me.  And I like to think I'm a pretty cool person.
     Fare thee well, my friends.
     "So count your blessings every day.  It makes the monsters go away.  And everything will be okay.
     "You are not alone.  You are right at home.  Goodnight."

Have a Laugh

     Last semester was filled with plenty of memorable quotes, and upon reading back through them today, I thought I'd share.  Enjoy.

Science
Professor: A star died for your smartphone.

Student who hasn't seen his friend in a week: We're together, and that's what matters.

Professor: This trilobite died nearly instantly.
Student: Good.

Professor, showing us a picture of an unfolded trilobite: It looks like a psychotic centipede.

Student: It helps them live and keep alive.

Student: I would not want to be the wife of that giraffe...if I was a giraffe.

Professor: Evolution doesn't mean progress.  I saw the 2012 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and was horrified.  What a fall for Mickey.

Professor: PhD's don't make you immune to foolish decisions.

Religion
Professor: Every roommate needs a pillow to the head unexpectedly at least once.  It keeps things real.

Music & the Humanities
Professor: Most operas are solidly PG-12.

Professor: The 80's got so much better with Weird Al.

Professor: Crosswalks.  Pedestrians have the right of way, just freakin' go.

Professor, after we didn't laugh at a dumb joke: Boy, you guys don't realize I hold account over your grades.

Professor, teaching us about the harpsichord: So prominent in the Baroque period because they didn't have access to banjos.

Professor: Hades gets to hang out with all the most interesting people.

Student: Do I have to take the test?
Professor: No.  You don't have to do anything.

Professor: It sounds like an oboe...being played by a blind person whose hands are tied behind their back and their nose is covered in duct tape and they've been shot in the leg.  In that way, yes, it sounds like an oboe.

*showing us pictures of the Palace of Versailles*
Professor: That's oppressive.

Professor: Present company excluded, I usually have very positive experiences with students.

Professor: If you ever need to sound important, just Latinize your name."

Spanish (the funniest)
FYI, my professor had us call him by his first name, which is Chad.

*a class on another floor starts singing*
Chad: Is that music?  What the flip.  Is that a monk choir?

Chad: You're bored.  You hate me.  I can see hatred in your hearts.

Chad: How do you say that in French?
French Student: *responds in French*
Chad: ...That's what I thought.

Chad: Let's say Gavin has a girlfriend, and she gives him what?
Student: Six.
Chad: I'm sorry, she gives him what?
Student: Six.  The number six.
Chad: See me after class, you have issues.

Chad: This thing sounds like it wants to make noise.

Student: That's a nice tie.
Chad: I've worn it every frickin' day.

Chad, giving an example sentence: "Chad vendió sus carros a su hermana."  [Chad sold his cars to his sister.]
Me, answering: "Chad se lo vendió."  [Chad sold them to her.]
*student raises hand*
Chad: JT, why do you disagree?
Student under his breath: Chad doesn't have multiple cars.

Practice sentence: "Dalton tiene más de un millón de dólares."  [Dalton has more than a million dollars, meaning he has a million dollars, among other things.]
Chad: So what does this mean?
Student: Él puede comprar un Jeep.  [He can buy a Jeep.]
Chad: What the flip kind of answer was that?

*the French class next door starts singing*
Chad: Wait.  Is that a French Christmas song?
Student: ...It's "Jingle Bells."

Student: I'd rather be sad in an expensive car than in a cardboard box.

*student asks if we can deliver our finished finals to Chad's house*
Chad: You can't see my hand in my pocket right now, but I'm giving you a gesture.


     Anyway, I hope that was semi-enjoyable for you.  If not, sorry.  I enjoyed it, so there.
     "So count your blessings every day.  It makes the monsters go away.  And everything will be okay.
     "You are not alone.  You are right at home.  Goodnight."

None of My Own Words

     Be of great heart, and fear less.  I know you don't believe it, but I promise you, life will carry you through.  You'll even get to like each other afterwards. (Porfiry Petrovich from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
     And if they drag you through the mud, it doesn't change what's in your blood. ("Be Still" by The Killers)
     The darkest hour has only sixty minutes. (Morris Mandel)
     There's nothing more lovely, there's nothing more profound than the certainty that all of this will end.  ("The One Moment" by OK Go)
     Lay down your sweet and weary head.  Why do you weep?  What are these tears upon your face?  Soon you will see, all of your fears will pass away, safe in my arms.  ("Into the West" by Annie Lennox)
     You are the storm.  (unknown)
     You will be found.  ("You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen)
     Yes, there is weakness.  There is frailty.  There is courage also, and honor to be found.  (Boromir from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
     Your friends are with you.  (Legolas from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)
     Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.  (Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)
     You were born with goodness.  ("Right Behind You" by Brandon Flowers)
     I'll catch you.  (Kelsier from Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson)
     Oh my darling, you're more than enough.  (unknown)
     Those who have hope, have everything.  (Panda Express fortune)
     On your feet.  (Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
     Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.  (Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
     Nothing happened because you were here.  And I sleep soundly at night knowing you always will be.  (Julia from Mission: Impossible -- Fallout)
     Take my hand--I'll lead you to salvation.  Take my love, for love is everlasting.  And remember the truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God.  ("Epilogue" from Les Misérables)
     There's some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.  (Sam from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)
     You know where to go, you have been there before in your heart.  ("Neverland (Reprise)" from Finding Neverland)
     You would live a hundred years if I could show you how.  I won't desert you now.  ("A Little Fall of Rain" from Les Misérables)
     No more talk of darkness.  Forget these wide-eyed fears.  I'm here--nothing will harm you.  My words will warm and calm you.  ("All I Ask of You" from The Phantom of the Opera)
     To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.  (Oscar Wilde)
     So count your blessings every day.  It makes the monsters go away.  And everything will be okay.  You are not alone.  You are right at home.  Goodnight.  ("Light in the Hallway" by Pentatonix)