I don't really remember much about the beginning of last year. The time between September and November is pretty much a blur and I can't recall too much of what happened, but from what my mom tells me, I was pretty miserable. I think maybe it's one of those repressed memories where you forget the things that were traumatizing to you. Because of that, I don't really have anything to compare to this year. Despite my fuzzy memory, I can say without a doubt that this year is a thousand times better, at least judging by my first two days. I've been so busy just being social; it's pretty much the only thing I've done since I got here!

It's so good to have people around. If today is any indication of what the year will be like, then I'm sure it will be fantastic. My roommate is so much fun. We spent hours yesterday decorating our room with lights, pictures, and all kinds of colorful stuff. It really looks great, except for the one blank wall we're still working on. Honestly, I've already had more people in this room in two days than I did the entire year last year. The people down the hall are so nice and they're already coming over to hang out. Everyone leaves their doors open and we talk down the hall and from room to room. If anyone knew what my living conditions last year were like, he or she would know that this is a miracle. Last year, the people on my floor wouldn't even say hi, even if you said it first. It's not that they were snobby, they were just antisocial or something. I don't know, I never figured it out.

I spent the whole day talking to people; old friends, people I'd never met before, and people I had only become briefly acquainted with last year. I don't care how many people make fun of the dorm I live in because it's quiet, I really love this dorm this year. There are so many great people on each floor. We're already switching numbers and screen names and chilling in each other's rooms. Practically in one day, I've been more social than I was throughout all of last year.

After dinner, a big group of us went to this place called Whit's where they have this stuff called frozen custard. It tastes just like ice cream to me, but others swear that it's completely different. Despite the fact that it melted really fast and I spilled a bunch of it all over my favorite purse with the green and white flowery design, it was still so much fun. (By the way, Shout wipes are amazing. Thankfully, they got all the ice cream off my purse.) It was awesome just hanging out with so many different people. They're so nice and friendly! All it takes is being friends with one of their friends, and they treat you as a friend. There are so many neat people on campus I'd never met before. I guess that's what you get for being trapped on the corner of the top floor of the quiet dorm your freshman year.

I know that when classes start, I'll be incredibly busy with homework, and all my extra activities, not to mention the fact that I hope to get a job. I know that there will be less time to be social, but today was a great start to really getting to know some great people. I hope it wasn't just a fluke that I had such a great day with people. It felt like I'd known all of them since last year, even if I had only met them today or yesterday.

I'm not really too excited for classes to start, but I'm not really adverse to the idea either. I'm a little anxious to see what I'll be doing, but I know that after awhile, I'll be wishing they were over. The time has come for them to start, and I feel as ready as I'll ever be. After today, I really think that this will be a great year. I'm sure there will be times when I get upset about things and forget how excited I am right now, but that's just the way things are. Always ups and downs; right now is a very high up.