First Week of Actual College COMPLETE!!

So, as you already know from the title, my first official week of college is done! It seems like it went by so slowly. I'm ok with the light homework load though. I should savor it while it lasts. I'm currently sitting in the basement waiting for my clothes to dry. I am never waiting two weeks to do laundry again! My roommate and I get along EXTREMELY well! We are so much alike. It's weird. I really hope that my laundry gets done soon and that it doesn't take me long to fold it all because I'm really hungry and haven't eaten dinner yet. Well, I just wanted to give a quick update and if I have time, I'll blog later!! Love,Ciera

Pre-Band Camp Excitement

I memorized the K-state fight song today!!! I'm so excited for band camp!!!

Oops, Forgot Something

I FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT I PASSED ALL OF MY CLASSES THIS SUMMER WITH A's!!!! I'M GOING INTO THE FALL WITH A 4.0 GPA!!!! :) I'm so proud of myself!!

ShoppingAdventures!!

I'm currently in the backseat of my dad's truck on the way to Lawrence with my parents to do some fall school shopping, mostly clothes. I have only 8 days left until I move into my new dorm!! I'm so excited. I'm really procrastinating about my band music! I have played it probably a whopping total of 3 times since I got it not to mention I need to learn my audition music too haha. Tomorrow will most definitely be a day full of wonderful music immersement!! Haha. I've been trying to keep in touch with my MAPS friends the best I can. As you all can probably already tell, I'm terrible at keeping in touch with people. It's something I'm trying to change through facebook, texting, emailing, and blogging. However, I'm a bit old-fashioned and unless you literally sit down and write me a letter, I most likely won't be keeping in touch with you that often. Anyway, I'm going to go for now!!! I'll blog later!!
Love, Ciera

Long Time No Blog

I know, I know, I've really been slacking on this whole blogging thing...and I know, it was my idea, so why not keep those I love updated? Well, to tell you the truth, I've been super busy and I kinda forgot about my blog. But, here I am, without fail and I'm entering another blog.

MAPS was the most amazing program that I've ever participated in. For anyone who is looking to go to K-State next year and is a minority and is planning on majoring in engineering, business, or agriculture, I would highly advise you to apply for the MAPS summer bridge program. It is a chance of a lifetime and you meet so many important people. I learned so much about myself and others that I would've never dreamed of knowing. Plus, I have a HUGE head start on the other incoming freshmen. I already know the campus quite well, have used its resources, know what to do around Manhappenin! I'm quite the little expert it feels like. But I know that there is more to learn.

I'm not sure if I put this in my previous blog, but I've changed my major to Civil Engineering. I'm super excited to learn about the field and I know that I will have lots of fun.

I leave home on the 15th of August. Band camp starts the 16th of August. Classes start the 22nd of August. Roller Derby bout in Topeka is the 13th of August. Keith's birthday is the 20th of August. My dad's birthday is the 11th of August, which is also the death date of a friend of mine who passed away in 2009. Needless to say, August is a BUSY month for me!!

I'm currently trying to create a road trip plan for my mom and dad and I for this weekend. I really want to get to know Kansas a lot better than I already do. I also want to scour antique stores for buttons and raisins for my dad. haha.

I got the last portion of my textbooks in the mail yesterday. They are all finally in my possession. That Calculus book looks like a foreign language book to me. I can understand my Spanish book better than that. Sheesh. I hope that I get a good teacher for Calc. They, some of the engineering students who have taken the class, said that there are a few bad math teachers. *fingers crossed

My schedule for the fall is AWESOME!! I have:
Spanish on Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 8:30AM-9:20AM
Calculus Lecture Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30AM-11:20AM
American Ethnic Studies Tuesday and Thursday 11:30AM-12:45PM
Band on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and most Fridays from 3:30PM-5:20PM
Calculus Recitation Wednesday and Friday from 10:30AM-11:20AM
Intro to Civil Engineering Wednesdays from 11:30AM-12:20PM
Multicultural Engineering Enrichment Seminar on Thursdays from 2:30PM-3:20PM.

Well, I'm going to get going. I've got some Spanish flashcards to make!
Love, Ciera

Lovely

We just got back from going to Pillsbury Crossing. It is so much fun!! I never thought that I could jump off of a cliff into the water in Kansas!! But I did!! Tomorrow we start our second week of school. It already seems like we’ve been here for about a year! I feel like I’ve known these people my entire life. I’m beginning to cherish those quiet times that I have to myself, though. I’m not used to being around people my age 24/7. I love my roommate! We get along so well!! I think that it’s cool having someone to share a room with. All my life I’ve slept in my own room, never having to share anything. Now, it’s definitely not like that! Yes, it’s different, but it’s a good different. I’m really not looking forward to tomorrow. I don’t understand chapter 3 in Chemistry at all!! It’s because I missed an hour of the lecture over it because I was at Lafene Health Center getting my wrist looked at!! I’m actually quite stressed about it! On top of that, my group in RoadMaps hasn’t started on our project yet! Although I like socializing and having free time, I’m beginning to think that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I didn’t come to college to goof off all the time. I came here to better myself and my education. I feel like I’m failing myself by not studying 24/7 or not understanding something. I guess that I shouldn’t be so hard on myself though. I can’t really help it if I don’t understand something unless I wasn’t listening in class. It’s just that I’ve gone through my life working as hard as I can because I had something to prove! But here, I feel as if nobody is watching. I guess I’m just rambling on now. I had a lot on my mind. I’m constantly thinking about what needs to be done and stressing myself out because it isn’t done yet. I’m so nervous for my first chemistry test. I really hope that I don’t fail it! In high school, I was a straight A student. Here, I don’t know what I’m going to be. Of course I hope that I can achieve a 4.0, but I know that it won’t be easy. I didn’t realize how badly I get anxious about things. College sure does bring out the best in people I guess.

4:00 Awakening

Yes, as the title suggests, I rolled out of bed, quite tired I might add, at 4:00AM. It was not the prettiest of sights but it had to be done. Our goal time for leaving is 5:30, but secretly 6:00. (We never leave at our goal time) haha. I haven't written for a while, and for that I'm sorry.

Now, for the matter at hand. Some of you may know what today is for me, some of you may not. For those of you who are wondering why any 17-year-old would be crazy enough to let her parents wake her up at 4:00, I'll tell you exactly what today is.

Today is June 17, 2011. The day that I go to my K-State orientation and move into my dorm room for the summer!! I'm super excited. I'm really going to miss my mom, dad, and cat, but me going away had to happen sometime. It's not like last year when I went clear on the other side of the equator. In truth, leaving those I love to pursue my education will be hard, but I'll only be in Manhattan. Mom wanted me to call her every day. Haha. I think I can do that.

I actually got my room cleaned!! Yep! I did it! I finished it Wednesday night! haha "If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done!"

Yesterday mom and I actually fit the majority of my stuff in her car, minus my clothes and a bag! It was a good day!!

Keith also messaged me on Yahoo! yesterday for the first time in about a week and a half! I was so excited! He means quite a lot to me and now I feel better about going away! We have a webcam date tonight. For those of you who don't know, Keith is my boyfriend who is currently serving his country in Iraq! I'm so proud to be an Army girlfriend!!

Well, that's about it for now. We are going to leave soon, and I am exhausted! Can anyone say "Ciera's sleeping in the car?"

Gifts from the Mailman

Yesterday I got my forms for the K-State Marching Band! I was so excited and I still am!! I will be filling those out and hopefully mailing them tomorrow!!

I received my grade card today!! I was so happy when I opened it to find a beautiful 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 4.25 weighted GPA!! I'm so happy right now! I'm about to jump around the house screaming!! AHHHHHHH I'm so proud of myself!! I knew that I could do it!!!! Yay me!!! I know that this may be a little egotistical, but there isn't a single person who can argue that I didn't work hard to receive those grades!!! This is definitely cause for celebration!!!! :)

Latest Update!

I'm incredibly excited for this June 17th to get here! I've been busily shopping for things to furnish my room. I can say, with complete confidence, that I have finally gotten everything that I can for my humble abode; which, although not likely the case, I hope is big enough to hold all of the wonderful things I've gotten. My color scheme is going to be black a white. It makes me feel mature and sophisticated; not saying that I'm not. By the way, if any of you out there are going to be first-time college students, just like me, the only place that I could find "Extra Long Twin Sheets" was at Target. The selection was horrible, a measly one choice; white. However, the sheets are soft and it was a relief to actually find somewhere that carried them. (Really Walmart? You're losing A LOT of business!) Our sitting room has recently been taken hostage by the array of college necessities! Sorry mom and dad! Love you!!

On another note, I took the College Algebra Placement Test for K-State on Thursday. This was an hour-long test over a subject that I hadn't had for two years. Of course, if you know me at all, you'd have already guessed that I wasn't nervous and I just signed in online and completed it the best I could. I received the results almost instantly proceeding the exam and, to my surprise, I got a 47 out of 50! Not too bad, eh? I was super duper happy!!

Tomorrow I'm planning on working on my application for the Honors Program at K-State. I really want to make sure that I get the most out of my education. I didn't really have that choice when I was in high school. But now, I get to be the one who decides what I participate in and how I manage my time. I'm ecstatic!! I've always dreamed of being able to make my own choices because I know that i will always try to use my best judgement!! I can't wait to see what this ambitious girl can accomplish!! And that all starts with me applying myself and putting in some extra effort!!

I'm am occasionally working on my room. It's coming along quite nicely! I'm hoping that I can go through everything before June 17 so that I can have a garage sale and get some extra cash for this summer!

This morning dad and I went fishing! It was so fun. I'm really going to miss him when I leave this summer. I'll miss my mom of course too, but I'm a daddy's girl and I always have been. We didn't do so well this morning. I caught what dad says was a crappie and he caught a small catfish. But we did have a great time together and that's all that matters. The highlight of our fishing expedition, which took place only on our neighbor's dock, was a pesky copperhead that would not go away! He even tried to charge at me when I tried to scare him off! But, no one got hurt and he finally swam away. It's moments like those that I live for.

Price Comparison!!

Today was an EXTREMELY productive day. I went to nine different stores comparing the prices for 55 different things that were on my list for college!!! I'll post the finished spreadsheet if I can figure out how to! Mom, Bonnie, and I are going shopping for the stuff on Saturday. (Supposedly the world is going to end then). We'll see! I actually did get motivated to start cleaning yesterday. But, I didn't get done! You guessed it! I'll be cleaning tomorrow!! YAY! :(

Pre-Departure Cleaning

I told my dad yesterday that I was going to start cleaning my room today, which, I might add, is a complete disaster zone! However, it's already 12:24 PM and I'm still in my pajamas, lying lazily on the couch, watching TV, and waiting on my Ramen noodles to cool down. I didn't think getting motivated to clean would ever be this hard. I'll admit, when it comes to cleaning, I am rather lax about it. But this is something that I need to get done before I leave. What are some good things to get me motivated to do this daunting task? Do you have any suggestions? Please help me out if you can. I'm seriously at a standstill right now with not knowing how to even begin to tackle such a large task. Anyway, wish me luck!

P.S. Exactly 30 days until I leave!

Call From KSU Section Leader

Sitting here in the Topeka Public Library is always a relaxing task. While setting up my new blog, I received a phone call from the clarinet section leader at K-State! I was so excited to hear from her! Looks like I'll be going to band camp from August 16-August 21!! Sounds like it will be a great experience.

Today I ate lunch with Helen Crow and made a new friend, Erica. She's a recent graduate of Washburn and is going into the Peace Corps. We went to a Thai restaraunt and the food was SO GOOD!! I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to try something new! After that I went to Topeka High to visit the Spanish Class and sign a friend's yearbook. Now, I'm just waiting for 6:00 to roll around so that I can go to a jazz gig at Gage Bowl. A pretty eventful day I'd say.