Details people, DETAILS!

Orientation was yesterday and went very well. All of my classes are in one building (and all of the lectures are in the same room even) and that's where I got to meet my 149 fellow classmates and every professor I'll ever have for the next four years. The Dean of Pharmacy seemed extremely friendly (and British *giggle*) and spent the first ten or so minutes of his speech congratulating us on our acceptance into his program. He also informed us that collectively this year's students have the highest average GPA of any class, and that we suffered through the most competitive admissions process. Apparently the waiting list has stopped at 234.

I was impressed over and over throughout the day at just how exceptional the pharmacy program is. I knew long before applying to FSU that Ferris was looked highly upon in regards to the new pharmacists it graduates each year, but I didn't realize just how good it was until yesterday. I feel truly privileged to be a part of it, and to think that in four years I'll be a professional. It's difficult to not get caught up in the excitement and chaos of the process. We took the Oath of a Pharmacist and received our class schedules as well as a tour of the pharmacy building. After having our pictures taken we went outside for a BBQ cookout where we got to speak to second year pharmacy students and meet other members of our own class.

Overall everything seems so different from my years at WMU. Pharm school will be more specific and I'll spend each and every day with the same individuals over the next four years. Even when I went to buy a few of my books I felt different than the other students. Certainly not better--just detached in a way I can't really describe. I had my student ID made and I bought a new calculator at Walgreens with the generous help of my new friend Beth who lives across the hall from me. She's also a first year pharmacy student with the exact same schedule and meal plan as me, so we quickly got aquainted. :)

My dorm room is finally set up and everything has a place. Well, everything except the futon which I forgot the nuts and bolts to, preventing me from putting it together. It's not fancy, and it's certainly not the apartment I shared with Mike, but having my things all around me gives it a more welcoming appeal. In due time I'll call it home, but for now I'm content to think of it as a temporary cinderblock environment.

I miss Kalamazoo, and everything and everyone I left behind. I'm busy enough that the feeling doesn't overwhelm me, but it still exists. I'm comforted thinking that each day that passes is another day closer to the end of this chapter. I'm proud of myself for coming this far and not giving up. Monday class will start and I'll be knee-deep in homework--doing exactly what I do best.