So, as Katie as informed me, I have not updated this thing in about a month. I apologize for the very few readers who actually read this. Which, I fear, may only be Katie. :P I do like blogging, but man, have I been busy! And not actually doing anything important. So I've avoided writing...to prevent a boring entry. But I can no longer postpone the inevitable. So to my lovely reader(s?)...a snapshot of what has happened in my collegiate experience thus far.
Part I. Class
It's weird because it doesn't seem as if the purpose of school is class anymore. You know how in high school, you woke up with the sole purpose of attending class all day. Not here. No one holds you accountable for your attendance, you go to class for a minimum of 50 min a day (sometimes you don't even have class at all). The rest of your day is yours. And the amount of time is MIND BLOWING. Even with running, I find myself lounging in my room, or a friend's room, or a dining hall, for hours at a time. doing very little. My homework load is light (almost all the time. Save the one time my 'brilliant' teacher decided to assign three essays at one go) and the classes are easy. Maybe it is just the classes I chose. Maybe I was lucky...or unlucky. I didn't even have midterms (definitely lucky). I was told all through high school that what I was doing would be comparable to college. Except Daddy, who told me it would probably be easier. Daddy knows best I suppose, because he was right. I learned the study skills needed to succeed during my secondary education...but I feel I haven't really needed to apply them as of yet.
Part II. Running
I have been having an amazing season. Knock on wood. Let me put it this way. My goal was to make the travel squad...that is top 7...by my junior year in college. I ran, at Conference, 4th for my team. Well, I guess I need to reevaluate my goals. But my successes feel all that much sweeter. I respect and trust both coaches and I love the team. I am inspired by these individuals every day. And it's not always the top runner that makes me proud. To be honest, it is rarely her. It's the girls who "rally" (mammoth joke), who struggle, and maintain their composure (if not their confidence) at all times. It makes me proud. Simple. I like having a team that I can be proud of. disclaimer: I am not saying I was not proud of my high school team. Quite the contrary. My expectations, created by those relationships at GOHS, were incredibly high. I'm just glad that this team rose to meet them.
Part III. Friends
So...I don't know what I would do without cross country. I think I would be a loner, and completely friendless. Because I spend entirely too much time hanging out with my teammates. I went home this last weekend, and actually had a Skype message with two of them. Because we went through withdrawals. I'm exaggerating (not about the message. That happened). I probably would have made friends if I didn't run. But I do love these people, and they help confirm that my decision to run in college was well worth it. They, in the short time I have known them, have earned my respect and friendship. It is easy to be friends with people who are just as passionate about the same things I am. Running brought us together, and holds us together. Despite injury, sickness, what-have-you, we are there for each other now. Our friendship probably accelerated due to the fact that we know no one else...but that is besides the point. :P
So there you have it. A post from Alia Bales. Hope you enjoyed. And Katie...thanks for keeping me on top of this. Love you.
Love,
Alia
