It

I’ve been really good about keeping up with all the reading, staying on top of the homework, reviewing my lecture notes after I’ve taken them, and starting projects early. As a result, I am now so far ahead that I am bored out of my mind. I don’t think this is supposed to happen! Maybe it’s because I’m retaking the classes that I withdrew from, and it’s simply because it’s easier for me to go over the same material that I’ve seen before. I still put in a fair amount of time studying for those classes, though! What do I do? I have no idea what a “regular” or “typical” semester is really like for me, because I’ve only experienced being either unmanageably busy or too bored, like I am now.

I’m singing at my campus church, both at the early and late evening Masses. I will soon audition for cantoring at the early Mass, but I began singing with the choir at the late night Mass yesterday, and I think I will keep going with it. It’s more challenging to sing at the late night Mass because it’s a different style than I’m accustomed to, but it will help me improve.

Through this, I’ve also managed to put some distance between myself and some of the friends that were causing me so much distress the last semester I was here. I think I will regularly attend a different Mass now. _{and I’m even taking a liking to somebody special in my choir! giggle}

I realized today that I miss playing piano, and although I will be playing flute in the band this semester, I wonder if I’ll ever have time to pick that up again. However, I’d have to make it part of a commitment in order to hold myself to it, and I don’t know if I have time to add that to my schedule.

_{Actually, I just thought about it some more, and I think that I’d be really happy if I added it. Now just to solve the problem of how...}

I love when I do all the things I adore, and I can just tell that I shine. :D

I’ve been back in school for a while and things have been going so well! I’m really glad. I’d even say I feel like I deserve it for having had such a horrible past semester, but I’ll just say that I am very, very grateful for the way things have turned out.

36. I LOVE MY ROOM. Really. Very, very much. I’m high up and there’s a view of the Potomac and it’s spacious and it’s a single room and there’s no roommate to bother me and I put nice curtains up to make it look more homey, and I’m just so happy in the environment that I’m in. I can finally study and eat and sleep and live in peace. This makes a huge difference. Last semester I lived in a basement with no natural light. I can tell you that that was extremely depressing.

37. I managed to cancel my meal plan so now I’m fully responsible for anything that I eat, and it feels good. I can cook and eat whatever I want and make healthy choices and not feel as though I should settle for pizza or whatever is in the dining hall. It’s a lot of fun to go grocery shopping and then cook all the food I bought – haha.

38. Classes are going really well! So far, I’ve managed to stay on top of things, and that’s just the name of the game. None of the material is difficult as long as I’m ahead of the syllabus schedule. I still feel like it might spiral out of control as the semester goes on, like it usually does, but this is a very good start and I hope to keep it going for as long as possible.

39. I love the workouts and activities I’ve been doing! I go to the gym and do yoga or go running outside or take a workout class almost every day, and I’ve begun to see the toning effects already. Yoga also helps me with balance and strength. Although I usually like my workouts to be more intense, I can see the benefits of something low-key like yoga. I wish our gym did pilates classes though. Also, I’ve joined the pep band, which is full of great people that I love and is always a great time. I’m glad music is coming back into my life.

40. I’m singing at a church! I’ll be cantoring (I hope, if the audition goes well) and also singing in a choir. I’ve been going to midday Mass nearly every day and I feel as though these church activities do so much to center my soul. I’ve managed to get far enough away from the negative people I used to go to church with, and the result is that I’m just left with the spiritual peace and calmness and comfort in my mind as I go through the day. I’ve also set aside time for prayer each day, and if I don’t pray the rosary every single day, I’d like to try to keep the Lord in my heart as I negotiate the challenges and activities in daily life.