The Journal of a Frustrated College Kid

I figure that since there are books called Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which are about a middle-schooler named Greg and his shenanigans, there should be a blog about college kids. So, I have decided for this segment I'm going to write a Journal of a Frustrated College Kid. 

Entry One: Why I'm frustrated right now.

1.) I don't know how well colleges thought about this. There never seems to be enough of it in populated areas, and too much of it in remote places that are no where near civilization. Can you guess what it is? If you guessed trees, you're wrong. Why would you think trees anyway? The correct answer is parking. Obviously I know we can't all get front row parking. That's an unrealistic view to have at all. However, I feel like there should be more available spots somewhere, anywhere, everywhere! At my school, there never seems to be enough parking...ANYWHERE! Tonight, I literally drove around for ten minutes waiting for someone to leave so I could have a parking spot. Then, I had a five minute hike to just get to the right building, not even into my classroom. (Yes, I timed it.) I go to a smaller community college, where this shouldn't be that big of a problem. If this is such an awful issue for my school, I can't imagine what it's like in a huge university. Actually, I'm glad I don't have to figure it out just yet. 

2.) One thing we have at my campus is a fancy, new Student Center. This is the first semester it's open, and it's state-of-the-art everything. (At least in my head, it seems that way.) We have a game room, a movie room, millions of study rooms, a fitness center with its own spin class, a bookstore, and a cafeteria. What could be frustrating about this you ask? Well, if you had leftover financial aide, you could buy a meal plan. Of course I did this because I'll be there four nights a week, and I like food. Scratch that, I love food. Again, what is so frustrating about that? Notice I'll be there four NIGHTS a week. The cafeteria closes at three pm. A little known fact to the whole student body. But wait! There's more! In the cafeteria, there is a "Campus Cup" (I think it's called) that also serves breakfast items in the morning and lunch sandwiches until seven pm daily. There's just one problem: it is constantly running out of food by four pm or earlier. How the flip am I supposed to use my meal plan if everything is gone before I get there?! I just don't understand. What about all the students taking night classes (like me!) who get hungry and have a meal plan? Just for the record, everything else in the student center closes at eight pm. I don't understand. How did the cafeteria not get the memo? 

3.) Lastly but not least, I'm really frustrated about the price of college books. For most of my classes, not only do we need the book, but also an online code for homework and such. Examples: webassign, mymathlab, quia, etc. Books by themselves are so expensive. Adding the online code, makes them near impossible to afford. One of my professors said that textbook prices have increased by 100% or something crazy like that. At some colleges, the books cost more than a credit hour. I did the math for my school. For instate tuition, one credit hour including fees is $157.85. (One of my books cost $150) A normal three credit class costs $473.55. Not bad as far as college classes cost at a university. However, the books I had to have for this semester cost about $400. I could have paid for almost a whole other class with the money I spent on my books. Underneath the tuition information, there was this disclaimer: 
"Books and Materials:Students are expected to buy any books, supplies, and consumable materials needed for courses of study. The estimated cost of such items averages $300 - 500 per semester for a full-time student." 
How crazy is that?! We already pay an arm and a leg to go to school, so why do the books have to be so expensive too? Can't they give us a break?

At this point, I am done with my rant. Combine that with the fact that I have work at six am, it is time to bid you all adieu. 

Until next time,
Coryn

The Creepies of the Night

Hi. My name is Coryn. I'm obviously in college, hence the title of my blog. I've been in college for three years now. I've taken early morning classes, afternoon classes, and even online classes. (Get to do school right from my bed? Hello! Sign me up!) However, this semester I decided to take all night classes. I work in the mornings, so this was the best option for me. As I told my family this, they warned me about "the creepies of the night". You know the usual: suspicious people, men in general (because I'm a girl), stranger danger, you get it. They gave me great advice, like use the buddy system, don't walk alone if you don't have to, always be on your phone. Again, you get it. The stuff everybody tells everyone when being alone at night in general. Being on a college campus, no different. 

Before I say anymore, I'm going to share with you the definition of creepy via Urban Dictionary. (I'm not sharing all the definitions, just the ones that pertain to my creepy of the night.)

Creepy: a) Anything that causes an unpleasant emotion such as fear, disgust, or repulsion. b) Somewhat scary because of strangeness.

Like you've probably guessed, what I experienced this shadowy, muddy night was nothing ordinary. It was definitely strange. Picture this: a squeaky door opens to the outside world to reveal a less traveled path. The sidewalk light is out, and no one is around. There is mud all around due to the recent downpour the heavens let out, and trees line the path. One lonely girl braves the night. She steps out of the nice, lit hallway into darkness. She walks a couple steps trying to think of the fastest way to get to the student center. All of a sudden, something very large and slimy walks across her foot. 

If you haven't guessed, the girl is me, and that very large, slimy something was a rat. A RAT! I'll let that sink in for a moment. Done? OK. It just walked across my foot like it didn't have a care in the world. It didn't care about the fear and disgust it was instilling in me at the moment. Or the fact that it was covered in mud and getting that all over me. No. That rat just wanted to fill my night with horrors. Suffice it to say, I was repulsed. So, I had to let the world know that there is something new on the list of creepy things that come out at night to say hello to you. All you college kids, beware of large rats roaming your campus. They might want to smear mud all over your foot. Don't worry, they don't bite...hard.