So Why I Write, aka MY Belle Letres

Frankly, I enjoy writing for writing's sake.

But I'm here because I love the idea of carving out my own little corner of cyberspace.

I'm a college student who loves blogs, especially lifestyle. It's a way for me to gaze into the future and think about where I want to go. Especially for someone who loves reading? It makes my life easier if I flip through sites and read something delightful... possibly during a dry lecture. Heh. Sorry. What they know won't know won't hurt them!

But when I looked up, "blogs written by college students," diddly squat! Not really. Maybe two or three written by graduate students (Hannah at Student Life, can we share chocolate and watch Grey's sometime? K thanks), or university-sponsored blogs with random pieces of advice. But other than that, slim pickins.

Well, then I thought, "Why don't I write a lifestyle blog now?"

Answer: college lifestyle isn't very glamorous. It involves dorm food (the least photogenic of all foods), dorm design (cramped, smelly and vaguely seventies, coated in air freshener and tacky glue) and frugality. I haven't bought a shirt for more than $20, and my new makeup addiction is suffering because I have NOWHERE TO PUT IT. Making my own dinner involves microwave chicken, a slightly bruised apple, and a cheese stick. There's a dirth of silence and reflection. Expression and art for its own sake seems nonexistent, possibly worthless.

College is one of those crucial times where expression and reflection keeps me more than sane (relatively). It allows me to step back from the growing chaos, remember what I really want and where I want to go.

There is something, I suppose, to be said for the experience of dorm life, as a right of passage or an initiation. It's like a training bra for adulthood. Some days, I slosh around campus in a mechanical fog: class, lunch, library, Netflix, repeat.

But staying in that mechanical fog isn't good enough for me. I want to revel in life, not just endure it. I am experiencing college life. I have nursed several friends as they puked jungle juice/Thai food for hours... let's just say you can't come back from that smell. Just ask my stuffed bunny, Barney. He still has some dried vomit on his ear that his mommy is scared to touch. From last year. Sorry Barney. I've been involved with Greek life on my campus, dressing up in fun but absurd costumes.

That being said, I don't want to brand myself as the Dear Abby of collegiate life. I'm not just a college kid. I love yummy, interesting food, interesting clothes, movies... I'm a young woman, just trying, like so many of us, to find my way. To take joy in reading, writing, food, exercise, friends, love, laughter...

I'm getting sappy and rambly trying to avoid midterm work. Point? College life may not always be glamorous, but that's a few very important years to fill with sunshine, beauty and smiles.

(Reblogged from Bianca's Tumblr, original clip from the movie Mean Girls. If you don't know it... I love you. You're like a Martian. :) )

I had to do it! It was getting more saccharine that the blue milk left over from Lucky Charms.

Life Collegiate