F1RST!!!!

Now that school has calmed down a bit, I've decided to take blogging up again. I have blogged in the past, but it was only about 5 posts long. I'm hoping to be a little more committed to this one.

Some things about me to note...

• This blog will contain political viewpoints, specifically mine. I am generally liberal on issues, although I am conservative in a few areas. Feel free to dissent from my opinion and express your own, just be able to back it up. I have a facebook, and this will replace the political rants on facebook. I will be respectful of you as long as you are respectful of me.
• This blog will also contain details about my life. I have Aspergers, that may pop up at some point. I am a Christian, although kind of early on my Christian journey. I know that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and want to follow Him. I just have to figure out how, and make changes accordingly. That will pop up as well.
• I am extremely loyal to my friends and family, and they will come up in here. DO NOT insult them in any way, even if I am upset with them about something. You should not expect to live past tomorrow if you do.
• I go to the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), and I am studying Elementary Education and minoring in Collaborative Education. I am very excited about what the future holds for me in terms of that.

Alright, now that everything's cleared up, I will write my first blog post.
College has been the best experience of my life. Not my entire college career, just UAH. Calhoun was just like high school; I avoided everybody, they avoided me. My social life was at karate/ the storehouse at Asbury United Methodist Church/ Michaels, where I work. It's not that I didn't WANT to make friends at school, I just didn't know how. I was always very shy and awkward, and had a hard time talking to people I didn't know. Then, Spring semester 2011 came. My knee was out, so I could not go to karate class. I had quit going to The Storehouse because it switched to Sunday nights, and I almost always worked Sunday nights. My dad was working graveyard shift, so I took all online classes to let him get some sleep. Basically, the only social outlet I had was work, and a friend from karate. I dated someone that semester briefly, but I was depressed. I made mostly Bs that semeser, I only got one A. I was excited about going to University of Alabama the next semester though, and the prospect of moving out and going to college was what kept me going.

Summer of 2011, however, I found out that I did not get any scholarships, and only $6500 in loans to pay for $25000 worth of tuition, room and board, meal plan, and fees. I did not want to put myself in that much debt, so UA was out of the question. My only other option was UAH. I could stay at home and go to school, at least for the next year. I wasn't too optimistic, though. UAH was the local university, it wasn't exactly esteemed (or so I thought). However, orientation came in August, and that changed my outlook on everything. I was tired of being a loner, tired of not having anything to do, and when I heard about all the activities that ensued on a daily basis, I was really excited. This was going to be a great year.

And it has been. I met a couple friends during Week Of Welcome (the first week of the semester) and many of my friends that I've met since then have been through them. After that first week of school, I was no longer depressed. I had friends, I had a social life, and I didn't think it could get much better. Classes were boring as always, though, and I was happy in December when my General Ed Requirements were finally finished.

Then, in January, I started my Education classes. I liked all my professors initially, and I ACTUALLY wanted to pay attention in class! But the classes themselves weren't the best part of the semester. My classmates were. After about the second week of school, we all started bonding, and it's been the best experience of my life. I finally have friends!! Of course, with friends come friend issues, especially in the guy department. But that is ok! I'm experiencing new things every day, and changing for the better. I can meet people now without a problem! I can go to a party and talk to people and have a good time, something I never would've dreamed of in high school, or even a year ago. I'm finding I have a little trouble with the in-between stages of a relationship, the transition from acquaintance to friend, and friend to good friend, but I am learning, and I can't wait to see what new experiences I'll have next year, when I'll (hopefully!) live on campus.

I know this post was long, and there was no politics involved here, only background info about me. Don't worry, all you politically-minded people, there will be politics, when the inspiration comes to me. Today though, I was reflecting on how wonderful college has been and how blessed I really am. I have Jesus to thank for all of this. Thank you Jesus.