Schedule- Stressful College Happening Excruciating Dance Until Legs Explode

It seems like decades since the last time I blogged on this old thing but thankfully with I typed in my name and password they remembered my on the spot and welcomed me home to the thoughts, tales, and tribulations that have been posted for all to see. It’s good to be home.

I tried with the Acronym. If you have any suggestions, post ‘em.

Now in a tribute to the name of my page, I thought I’d take you through a part of my days: A Day In The Life of Lindsay K. And I picked a goody just for you, perfect for a good blog. Read on and you’ll see.

Wednesday, November 17th started off with a sweat, bang, and several yells at cries at my computer. Of course, to anyone who is a freshman at Edinboro, they very well know why. The official day for the dynamic event of scheduling for Spring Semester started at 12:00 AM November 17th, 2004. It’s a time when all the freshman on campus are punching in their course reference numbers to save their seat in class like a mad rush of shoppers on Black Friday. Even before the clock strikes midnight the crowd on online students are trying to squeeze their way through by frantically re-typing their pin so they can be one of the first people to hop on the scheduling express, buy their class ticket, and sit comfortable in coach while the others are jumping onto the train as it pulls out from the station, many not fast enough to keep up with the pace or not strong or smart enough to hold on while the momentum is gained.

I was on the caboose, to say the least.

I had re-worked my schedule a bizzilon times before this morning. (I may not be the brightest math student, but my schedule was probably in the bizzilon range.) I had arranged the run-of-the-mill meeting with my very helpful advisor for the usual pin number you must have to get on the site along with the run down of classes I can take and such. In addition to the meeting, I went over to a friend’s room in Schaffer Hall to get some expert tips on scheduling, classes, midnight rush, and the other missed tib-bits my advisor unintentionally left out. I was on top of my game- I had different schedule plans, color-coded sheets and a roommate to help me remain sanity as I carefully and meticulously planned everything out. Pah, midnight will be a quick punch of numbers and off to bed for me.

My life never goes to plan or in a stereotyped fashion. I always get the wild card. Unfortunately, I had a Royal Flush this morning.

I decided to go to The Gathering last night, a worship service and get-together with college students that is really, well, awesome! It’s a blast and I really enjoy going. Sometimes I get lazy and get the idea that I can skip but I told my ride, Kristin, to just call me and tell me I am going; that way I have no excuse. But I knew before I left that I had to work on that schedule when I returned for I checked the places and slots available left in some of my classes and some looked bleak.

The Gathering was quite a blast and went longer than usual to about 10:45. I entered my room at Rose Hall and knew what I had to do: schedule. Soon the books and papers were flying as I yelled Patrice’s name in my room for advice. (Patrice is our RA who is a Speech Communication major who is ‘da bomb.) It seems the classes were filling up, I didn’t have to take one of my classes anymore because my advisor didn’t see a need for it, and nothing was fitting into place. My roomie, Manna, was anxious to get in and wanted the ordeal over with, I, on the other hand, wanted to freeze time. Then she said the dreadful words I will never forget, almost like out of a movie as everything goes silent and a camera focuses on her face: “I’m in.”

The madness, I tell you! I was punching numbers, clicking, rooting through papers; hoping something good was going to come out of all of this. Then it all started to go downhill and the scheduling train keeper shouted “All Full!” rather than “All Aboard!”. Classes were closed. My plans weren’t working. Other people all over campus were clicking into classes I could be taking but instead I was confused and dazed in the insanity of the night. Soon it was 1:00 and I was still in a state of emergency. Kevin, 3rd floor buddy from the bowling team, later came up and walked in as Manna and I frantically tried everything to fit. He proceeds to tell us he got all the classes he wanted with all the right teachers and he was finished in five minutes. Out of rage, confusion, and disbelief, I took of my slipper and began to beat him with it. Funny, yes, but how I needed help.

Finally I had things worked out to an ok state and got 3 of the main classes I needed but there were still loose screws that were drilled in too tight and I would have to learn to live with it. I went to bed feeling like I just completed Christmas shopping. I tried to find the perfect gift but the darn Robot 2000 was sold out and didn’t have a shipment in till after the holidays. I searched everywhere but each store clerk gave me a frown and an “I’m sorry, Miss.” One the bright side, I have two classes with Manna that will be fun and for the most part relaxed and fun: A P.E. class and College Writing.

I finally fell asleep and the digital clock display glowed 2:00AM. I knew tomorrow was going to drag but at least I got my schedule out of the way. I decided to check back later in the day tomorrow to see if anyone would have dropped classes due to a change of theirs that I would be able to gain from. Close your eyes, Lindsay; they’ve been open quite too long.

I woke up feeling like I had been asleep for a long time but really wasn’t. The alarm from my cell phone rang and woke me to remind me of Two Dimensional Design and the project due I had to turn in. Eventually, I crawled out of bed and hustled my fanny over to Hamilton Hall. I got out of class early and returned to the room in hopes of a nap but I don’t possess the gift- I just laid in bed and looked at stuff; even though I was cozy and tired. My roomie left for class and I worked on a few things.

I decided to check back into the SC.O.T.S website, where I schedule, to see if openings had occurred. And to my disbelief, they did.

I almost had a coronary. There were still classes open, some had opened that were once closed, hope exists! I clicked crazily and jabbed in those numbers to find that there were classes I could take that I wanted- a dream come true! I found the last Robot 2000 on a bad shelf; an angel from God’s heavenly realms had slipped a coach ticket for the train in my pocket. Even though it’s a 18 credit semester and the odds of me getting a job and keeping up with grades are in the air, the classes are kickin’ and I made it out alive.

Now, where’s my towel? I’m getting a hot and much-needed shower.