Using pictures, graduation cards, drawings and letters from friends and the knick knacks I brought with me, I am really content with my space.
I'm sure there will be more decorations in the future!
*Code words, what else do you expect from me?
Growing with the Fierceness Religion Wanted to Stamp out of Me |
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I am living with my conservative parents (rent free) post-college graduation because I bought too many avocados, I guess. I have to attend church, so I write a letter to my exvangelical friend (pseudonym Belle) during the sermon.
Making my dorm here at Hogwarts* feel like my room back at The Shire* with so many restrictions (i.e. no push pins, Christmas lights, painting the walls) is challenging. Using pictures, graduation cards, drawings and letters from friends and the knick knacks I brought with me, I am really content with my space. My favorite thing is my shelf. I love how it’s changing as I settle in and begin actually enjoying my room, not just living here. The first actual decoration I did was partially inspired by a girl’s wall downstairs. She used command hooks, string and paper clips to hang rows of black and white pictures. I applied her method for my graduation cards, except I used clothes pins. (Ignore the streamers, I couldn’t bear to take them down yet!) My most recent project is my picture wall. Walgreens was having a sale (25 prints for $5!) and I jumped at the offer. I picked out some pictures of memories with friends and had them printed. Two days ago I cropped the pictures and began taping them to the wall with blue painters tape. I didn’t stencil out the shapes or put any thought into it really, I just picked the upper left corner and worked my way over. I also taped up the birthday card my parents and brother sent me and I have wiki sticks spelling out my name. My friend Rachel molded them and stuck them onto my wall two summers ago and I had to take it with me. My dear friend Andrea (who I teach Sunday school with back home) did a little project with our class, making a picture out of my Sunday school class’ thumb prints. The night light I picked up at dollar tree. I plan on adding more pictures from my college experience to balance out my picture wall, a little of my past and a little of my present. I love photo boxes. When they are on sale ($2 each) I stock up. I had a stack of them that I packed even though I had no idea what I was going to store in them but I’m so glad I did! The boxes offer a fun pop of color and design. I am currently using every box I brought and I have them scattered around my room (two on my bookshelf and three on my wall shelf). I also have a bulletin board propped on top of our mini fridge that I decorate with notes and do dads I brought from home. It looks exceptionally pretty with the flowers my hall mate Allie Cat gave me <3 The makeshift vase adds to the charm ;) I'm sure there will be more decorations in the future! *Code words, what else do you expect from me?
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Birthdays have always been a huge deal for my family. Some of my favorite memories from my childhood are from planning parties with my mom and picking a theme, all that fun stuff. This year, my birthday happened during my first month in college. I was worried, prior to arriving on campus, that I would be celebrating alone. But my roommate, several people in my hall and friends from classes and First CLAS all made my day ridiculously special. My parents and brother sent a care package and a couple of birthday boxes with lots of chocolatey goodness, books and a personal sized Keurig (my roommate, Charlie*, and I were over the moon when I opened the box!). Several friends sent cards and lovely little things that reminded me how silly I was for being so worried about my birthday. Just because I’m here doesn’t mean my circle of family (blood and otherwise) doesn’t love me anymore. Freshmen jitters I guess. My mom and Charlie did a little snooping and conniving and surprised me with a decorated dorm room! Charlie also made cupcakes that we decorated, gave to other people in our dorm and ate. They were delicious. It was weird being away from home, especially because last year I really didn’t celebrate my birthday. I didn’t want to. I think this year made up for last year and for me being away from home. *Just a nickname Oh how I miss you! You're in my prayers as school starts up for you. It makes me so sad that I have to watch your 11th grade school year over Facebook and not experience it with you. School is hard. Really hard. I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I'm really struggling as I try and balance sleep, relaxation, homework, work and church hunting. (Just picture that drama club game "it's a great day for hunting churches!") I'm loving this cold weather, it's finally cooling down and becoming hot coco, cuddling, movie watching weather. I'm so tired, people in my hall are enjoying my tired state. I said something really funny the other day in my sleep deprivation, "did they attack you with glitter??" I think they were surprised something like that came out of little miss homeschooled. I love telling homeschool jokes, people never seem to know how to respond ;) I love my hall though. We had a karaoke night on Friday and it was so much fun. I can't wait to Skype you and get a tour of your newly organized room! How's church? I miss it saying I was there for practically a week before I left for Narnia*! I think I found a church here... Fingers crossed :) oh! You're cow has a place of honor on my bookshelf, I love telling people about it. Don't forget what the cow said to the moon, much love, -Rachel *Not literally Narnia I was part of a pre orientation leadership and service "camp" at Hogwarts*. All 49 of us incoming freshmen were split into groups and we acted as a team throughout the week. We did icebreakers, team building ropes courses at a local kids camp, nightly reflections and most importantly, we served the community. Our leader chose three very different service projects for us to get our toes wet in all areas of Narnia**.
We sorted food at a food bank, weeded and laid out soil at a local community garden and glued "no dumping, leads to river" signs to curbs (you think I'm joking, but I'm not). The first day, everyone decorated a paper bag and taped it to the wall. People could write each other notes and put them in the bag. They were called happy smiley notes :) Also, each person, including leaders, picked a name from a hat and that name was their secret friend. During closing reflections we all took turns talking about and then giving our secret friend a letter. It was an amazing experience. I created friendships before campus was cluttered with 1700 students. It was a great way to begin to adjust to college, before college actually began. *Not my real school :( **Just the fandom location I am using for the state my college is in |
AuthorI am a cynical, dyslexic, exvangelical, angry feminist killjoy millennial. Be prepared for salt. Archives
October 2018
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