September was a good month! A lot happened but it seemed to fly by. Moved into school back in mid August but classes only started to pick up once we got into September. It’s so exciting being back here. Everyone wants to talk and meet each other, a quality that felt absent for so long. I think, because of the pandemic, people have been craving to socialize in person knowing how not being able to has felt for the past 1.5 years. WVU football isn’t doing the best this year, but at least the sunsets are pretty!
I’ve continued to make and strengthen lasting friendships in nearly every corner. My girlfriend and I have been learning how to date at school after transitioning from long distance over the summer. She came out to visit over the summer for my sister’s grad party which was really fun and a helpful way to split up the time being apart. We wrote letters and journaled together to pass the time, and video chatted regularly, even enjoying a few long-distance movie nights (popcorn included). But learning how to navigate college in a relationship is pretty different! It can be tricky at times, but I’m grateful that I’m with someone who is patient and able to talk with me through any topic.
Meeting people in class has been quite easy this semester for a few reasons. One being that we have assigned seating to be able to do contact tracing when necessary, so we sit around the same people each day. It’s a great way to chat up the people around you! Another being that as I take these higher-level courses, they aren’t mass-lectures anymore so the class sizes are much more manageable and I can connect with a group of 15–20 much easier than a class with 100+ people in it.
This semester I was selected to be a peer mentor again, so that’s been quite a fun experience! My mentees are a good group, and I’ve been meeting with them individually over the semester to learn about them and guide them on their journey as college students. As you and I talked about back before the summer, by writing the peer mentor handbook for the business college, I feel so much more knowledgeable on common fears or challenges that these students tend to face and with that, I know how to work with those students far better than I did last year. The other peer mentors I work with this semester are absolutely astounding. This group is the best group we’ve had in the program so far, and I’d imagine it will only continue to get better in the coming years. I love coming to class with this group. Our conversations are always so dynamic and thought provoking, it’s awesome to be surrounded by such a strong team.
I’m also tutoring Accounting again this semester which has been going well so far. The professor I’m tutoring for this semester is one I haven’t worked with before but it’s been going well despite that. He’s been great to work with. The material we’re covering in the class is a bit different this year, putting more of an emphasis on managerial accounting rather than the more numbers-based financial accounting that I’m used to. This has been tough to rework my style of tutoring since the materials are different. I’ve been creating new lesson plans rather than basing it off of my old material, and relearning some of the concepts that haven’t been as engrained in my memory. But I’m facing it head on and it’s been going well so far. My team of tutors is probably one of the strongest groups we’ve had in a while, which is super exciting! We’ve gone out to lunches and dinners a few times to grow as a team, strengthening our connection and understanding of how each of us can contribute to the team.
I definitely have more confidence this semester. I think part of that may be due to having a job lined up following graduation, it’s one less thing I would have to worry about, while many of my friends are going through that process that I went through about a year ago. It’s a stressful time so I definitely feel for them. I think my confidence is also attributable to the fact that I’m in my senior year and really just comfortable being here, being around so many familiar faces, and knowing where to turn when I have something that I need to figure out. I’m not just floating around anymore.
SUMMER
My summer was awesome too! I experienced working in Philadelphia for the first time, met several friends through my internship, and joined them for Happy Hour’s every once in a while. I was able to secure a full time offer once the internship ended, lifting a huge weight off my shoulders as I get into my last year of school. I even made it on the student newsletter!
I went to the Outer Banks with my family and friends as per tradition, and everyone had a great time. Getting to connect with them is always a treat. There, we spent many days at the beach, we went to Howard’s Pub at Ocracoke island, went kayaking in the Pamlico Sound, celebrated the Fourth of July, and so much more.
I got to drive a stock car at Dover International Speedway, racing around the track at over 100mph with other drivers. My family and Grandparents were there to watch, making the whole day even better. I felt a little sick afterwards though, not sure if it was from the fumes or going around in circles that much, but it was awesome nonetheless.
This summer I purchased a new bike, a Specialized Sirius X5 in blue. I loved mountain biking but I began enjoying going farther distances last summer and the mountain bike wasn’t really designed for that, which prompted my urge to switch. This bike has allowed me to go from a personal best of around 30 miles to just over 60 miles in one ride! I was able to go for a few rides with some great people who also helped teach me how to ride more efficiently. Few times have I ever felt as included as I felt with them, so if they’re reading this, thank you! Can’t wait to ride more.
Being at WVU for my Senior year is crazy. The time has flown, I’m just holding on for the ride. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. October will be a good month.
Talk to you soon!
-Alex
