Here we are again. That lovely time of year when we wake up early every day, zone out during lectures, sleep whenever there’s a free moment and, of course, spend our hours cramming for exams. The first day of classes is upon us. You may be excited to get back to your old school patterns after this long summer break, OR you may be dreading the day you have to wake up for that terrible 8 a.m. Either way, here are some thoughts we all seem to have on our first day of classes:
1. Am I in the right classroom?
Regardless of the size of your school, you most likely will still have some sense of skepticism stepping into a new classroom on the first day. You take a look around, scanning the room and asking yourself if the girl next to you looks like she belongs to whatever you're majoring in. We all second-guess ourselves, and if you're anything like I am, you've sat down in the wrong classroom at least three times since you've started college.
2. Should I have dressed up?
There are some people out there who truly love planning their first day of class outfits. While there is nothing wrong with this, a good percentage of college students wear their pajamas to class. If you're the type to stroll into class wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt, you may start to question if you should have put a little more effort in.
3. I really hope we get out early.
Let’s be honest, there is no need for a first class to be a full hour and fifteen minutes. The teacher talks for a bit, goes over the syllabus, and that’s it — let’s go. However, some teachers like to jump right into the course material. And while your teacher may have done this, and you’re already forty-five minutes into class, you’re still secretly hoping for an early dismissal.
4. Please don't make me introduce myself.
You're sitting at your desk, palms sweaty, eyes avoiding any type of contact with the teacher, and you await your punishment: Introducing yourself with three interesting facts about yourself. First off, you don't even KNOW what’s interesting about yourself other than the fact you watche Netflix for six hours straight the night before. For this reason, you’re anxious as you sit at your desk dreading your turn to speak.
5. Do I have to raise my hand to pee? Or can I just go?
This is a big one for freshmen. Most of the time, you can just get up and go. Despite this, on the first day, you don’t know what to expect from your teacher. You figure the best bet is to hold it and sprint for the bathroom after class.
6. Who are these people?
The first day of classes brings a lot of new faces. Instead of focusing on what the teacher is saying, you tend to stare intently at these new students and wonder what parties or other social gatherings you may have run into them at in the past.
7. When is the earliest time I can nap?
I am not ashamed to admit that one of the first things I think about in the morning is when I can go back to bed. By starting a new year, you now have a new schedule where you need determine when you can pencil in some well-needed naptime.
Throughout your first day of class, different thoughts will run through your mind. You'll be wondering how difficult certain classes will be, what your workload is like for the semester, and you'll definitely be forming opinions on your new teachers. While the day may be rough, especially after a three-month vacation, just keep in mind we're all in it together, and we're all thinking the same things.
