To get the ball rolling

Today I went to Ferris for the first time since I took the PCAT last October, and only the second time overall. I was nervous but not nearly as much as I was when I took that test--what a miserable 24 hours that was. I was so stressed I practically cried if you looked at me weird, and I was so distracted that I paid little attention to my surroundings during the entire ordeal. I certainly never imagined I would be calling it home in less than a year. In fact, if you had told me so, I would have modestly laughed my ass off.

Today was different, with the PCAT and the Waiting List having already come and gone. I felt like a runner standing at the finish line and gazing back at the track, surprised at just how far I'd traveled in such a short amount of time. The campus was more welcoming and enjoyable than I'd anticipated. I'd peg it as only a third the size of WMU, but the smaller scale is almost more attractive to me now that I've already experienced a large university. It seemed to be in remarkably good shape for being a slightly older college, with even it's oldest buildings kept up drastically better than WMU (I noticed several newer buildings as well). Big Rapids certainly holds no candle in entertainment value in comparison to Kalamazoo/Portage, but my beloved Meijer was nearby along with some of my favorite food joints, including Qdoba and A&W. Although much, much larger than my hometown, it all had a small-town feel in the middle of the country which made me feel a little more at home.

Mike's guardian Sandy took me up there so I could get my finances and housing situation in order. I went to the College of Pharmacy building (I'll be in one building for all my classes--how cool is that?) where I got to meet a few of the pharmacy advising staff, and I was most impressed with how exceptionally friendly and supportive they were. I brought my transcripts along with me to verify that I'd taken my final pre-pharmacy requirement (Human Physiology) and I've now been officially admitted. Afterwards we visited Financial Aid (I'm going completely on loans this year--but I was ready to do whatever was necessary to get me through the program) and then Residential Housing, where I signed up for a dorm room.

The dorm rooms were nothing fancy, as most dorms are, but I get an 11 X 14 room all to myself and I share a bathroom with the girl next to me. I was so happy to get a private room. So happy. I was concerned they'd all be gone or something equally horrible. Now, more than ever, I'm going to need my own space in which I determine who's over and for how long, when the music is on, when the TV is on, and what time the light goes out at night. In many ways I'm very excited to live in a dorm again. By omitting the roommate factor I can't imagine how it would be a bad experience. I enjoyed my time in WMU's dorm hall, my only complaints being the crappy condition they were in and the extreme lack of personal space. Living in a dorm is fun--I'll meet a lot of people, get involved, and I will have no choice but to be social. And when I'm thrown into that situation all over again in a place I don't know with a bunch of strangers... I'll need extra coaxing.

I was given a room on the second floor of North Bond Hall, which is right across the street from the pharmacy building OMG. So pretty much everything on campus I'll need is within 100 yards of my bedroom window.

I suppose that is all I have to say about it. I like it, and I'm certain I could easily love it. I feel as if the opportunity to leave WMU has come at a good time--in many ways I feel as if I've outgrown my place here. Leaving Kalamazoo will be a challenge not because I'll miss WMU, but because of the people I've met here. The ones I'll know forever. The most difficult part of pharmacy school for me won't be the classes, the homework, or the exams. What I'll struggle with will be the separation from Mike, my friends, and the complete lack of even one familiar face once I'm gone. For a while I know I'll hate it and want to come home. I'm sure I'll cry. But I did when I came here too and look at what it has become. I know in time I will adjust and the distance and insanely busy schedule will become routine--and before I know it I'll be done.

I still have to cancel my WMU financial aid, declare my chemistry minor, and complete the transfer process. Then I have nothing else left to do but wait. In the meantime I will be enjoying what time I do have left before my life is flipped upside down.

It's final now; I'm going at the end of August. It's too late to be afraid because there's no turning back now.