Disoriented: Scheduling classes can be an adventure

After Truman orientation last Friday, I am now an enrolled college student. It's so exciting to say that, even if scheduling classes was an otherworldly experience.

Before we walked into the computer lab, the English adviser told us that classes would be filling up as we were scheduling them, so it was a race against our peers to get into the classes we wanted. I walked into the computer lab trying to summon the competitive spirit that I have not been blessed with. For some reason my competitive edge only comes out when I'm in non-intense situations -- like playing badminton -- and only then in mild, slightly lame attempts to jokingly intimidate the other team.

Once I walked into the lab, I saw that enrolling in classes was definitely an intense situation. Forget scheduling classes at certain times to have the "Perfect Schedule." About two minutes into the experience I realized I had better just try to schedule some classes or else I was going to end up in Hardboiled Egg Eating 101 or something stupid like that.

There was also the possibility that if I didn't start typing in some course names I was going to walk out of the computer lab with no classes at all. Thankfully, an adviser came over to help me. After I apologized for consuming most of his time, he told me it was all right that I needed help -- we were learning a ton of new things and that's what orientation was about.

After 45 minutes, a lot of learning and one overworked adviser assuring me he was happy to help, I had an amazing schedule packed with subjects I love. It doesn't seem right that I get to take so many classes in the things that I am passionate about like writing, singing and Africa. It was definitely worth the hard work, stress and being one of the last students in the computer lab.

College is going to be about so much more than just learning in class; I'm already learning that, just from orientation. I'm learning that I don't have to be good at college yet or know what I'm doing. After a whole year of experiencing lasts, it's nice to be reminded of the unfamiliarity of firsts. I'm learning through meeting cool individuals at orientation that God is a faithful provider who is going to give me friends that lead me closer to him, like I've been praying for.

I'm learning, through playing those dorky get-to-know-you games everyone secretly loves -- or maybe that's just me -- how to be myself in a group of strangers. Hopefully, in the midst of all this learning and somewhere in between the History of Africa and Hardboiled Egg Eating 101, I'll have time to practice my competitive edge in badminton domination. That way, maybe with a little hard work, I'll be more prepared for competitive class scheduling in the spring.

Mia Pohlman recently graduated from Perryville High School, where she wrote a monthly column about being a high school senior. She will continue her column through the summer and into her first year at Truman State University.