First Day of School

I survived my first day of graduate school! Thoughts about today:

1. Starting a new school can be lonely. I didn't see one familiar face all day until my parents came home.

2. Big surprise: my classes are about 40% women, 60% men. I am not alone in that aspect. However, the ethnic makeup of my classes is about 91% Indian, 6% Caucasian, and 3% other. The 6% Caucasian consists of me and some white, scrawny dude with baggy pants and smudged eyeglasses.

3. Since today was the first day, my professors gave an overview of the class and went through the syllabus. As they talked about bomb threats (you were right, Kim), the Americans with Disabilities Act, academic integrity, and other subjects the university makes them mention, I began to look around the classroom. In my one undergrad class, most of the students were sleeping. At ACU, we would at least wait until the second week to start sleeping, not the first day.

But in my two grad classes, the students were diligently taking notes about what exit to use in case of an emergency. Not only were they fiercely scribbling down everything the professor said, they were doing it in pen! I haven't used a pen to take notes since my sixth grade teacher said, "No one is perfect; that's why we use pencils in this classroom." Since I'm in grad school now, rather than grade school, am I required to use a pen too? Does the missing 'e' at the end of that word really mean that I'm perfect?

4. Remind me to never say again, "Is it hot in here or is it just me?" to the white, scrawny dude sitting a few seats down from me because he'll think I'm hitting on him.

5. ACU does not have a parking problem. UTA does.

6. Concerning the actual computer science subject matter, what I lack in experience, passion, talent, skill, and intelligence, I plan to make up with organization. That's why I went to Eckerds, err, CVS tonight and bought two new 3-ring binders and dividers. You can take the 'e' out of grade school, but you'll never take the sixth grade organizational skills outta me.