I can has classes?

Well hello all! To continue Brandi and Julie's recent posts regarding the rapidly-approaching beginning of the school year, I thought I'd pitch in my two cents as well. I'm not going to lie (and anyone who knows me well at all will not be surprised at all by this), I love the first day of school. I did when I was in third grade, sixth grade, and twelfth grade, and even as my FINAL year of college looms heavily on the horizon *gulp* I still find myself eagerly anticipating August...mmm...28th! and the official start of the 2007-2008 school year. I've listed the reasons for my jubilation, since for some reason I feel more accomplished if I compile lists than if I just type into giant paragraphs.

1. Summer's not over quite yet. I still have to go on a vacation of sorts (there's a memorial service involved, but it's still nice to get away!) for the first week of August.
2. I get to go to IKEA and SuperTarget and plan out my room/apartment decor.
3. School clothes shopping. Since I have to actually invest in items that will be post-grad-work-place appropriate, I'll be relying on the old "spend more, buy less" adage regarding clothing.
4. I can get started in my newest post as RoundTable editor-in-chief. My pet projects are waiting in the wings, eager to be fleshed out in print.
5. Classes are fun. I enjoy learning. Nerdy, yes--but whatever, that's what my parents are shelling out the cash for after all.
6. SCHOOL SUPPLIES. Nothing beats shopping for school supplies, I swear. Even if I do most of my work on the computer now, I still pick up at least a few important-looking binders and a new set of pens just to have the chance to walk around the school supply section and even give in to the temptation to buy the sheets of shiny stickers my mom never let me have. I always buy crayons, too.
7. Door decorations. As an RA, I have to be creative and decorate the doors to my residents' rooms, or apartments as it were. Since we usually make them after a long day of training, everyone is a little delirious by that point--which really adds something to the fun!
8. Fall begins! My favorite season (not only because my birthday is October 3rd!) in Wisconsin--the campus is so pretty and there's nothing like that crisp fall air!!
9. People who have been abroad are coming home! After months of being without my core group of girlfriends, we're going to be living and/or working together and living it up during our senior year *gulp again*
10. Folk'n'Blues Festival in September--one of the great traditional Beloit events that draw lots of people from both on- and off-campus.

Ok, I could actually go on and on. I won't, but please note that it's not just the summer that is exciting and fun at Beloit--there's a lot to look forward to after August! (Except for January and February. No one looks forward to them.)

~Laura DM