Future Career

In just a couple of weeks, I will be back at university starting my third year. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do post-university. I'm taking my degree for five years so I still have three years before I make a solid decision. As much as I'd like to find a biology related job, I've also been thinking a lot about teaching lately.

In high school, I was part of a peer tutoring club for two years. I really enjoyed helping younger students with their homework and teaching them about the subjects they struggled in. I've also always loved kids and enjoyed every babysitting opportunity I got. If I made the decision right now, I'd probably go for a post-degree so I could be a teacher, I'm not sure about elementary vs high school though. I think both elementary and high school would be enjoyable but in different ways.

On the other hand, I don't want to give up completely on biology. My original plan for trying to get into the biology field was to start volunteering for biology related places in my fourth or fifth year to build up a bit of experience. From there I would apply to related jobs after graduating but if I fail to get a job in the first couple of years then I would work part time while still doing volunteering. The problem with biology is that I'm not completely sure what I want to do with it. I don't know what direction I want to take or what kind of job I'm wanting. The reason teaching is more appealing right now is that I can imagine exactly what I want in that field but in biology I'm unsure.

There is no rush to make a decision right now but as I finish up my degree, I think I'll make sure I meet the requirements for teaching so I still have that option. Regardless of what I ultimately choose, I just want to find a job that will make me happy.

My University Breakdown

Currently, I'm going through some issues... Actually, I've felt this way for a while now but since it is my second year I thought I should start dealing with my issues instead of ignoring them.

A lot of the time I worry that I'm in the wrong program. My grades kinda suck. Even when I think I know the material I don't do well on the tests. I understand that getting bad grades doesn't necessarily mean you are in the wrong program but it really hurts my self-esteem. I believe biology is something I enjoy and want to pursue but I lack the motivation because it seems no matter how much I study, I get the same results.

The other program I considered doing was writing. I enjoy writing a lot and I know I could get good grades in the program without much effort. However, I didn't think I would learn as much studying writing as I would studying biology so ultimately I decided against it.

Right now I am having a breakdown because I don't feel passionate about what I'm doing. It's hard to force myself to study and go to classes. I really want to be excited about learning biology but I just can't do it right now. I don't know what's wrong with me.

Sometimes I think that after I get my degree I won't even go into biology. I wonder if it's pointless for me to get this degree if I'm not sure I want to do anything with it right away. Unlike others in biology, I have no interest in getting a master's degree. The best biology jobs all require master's degrees but I just don't want to do any more school after my undergraduate is done. The idea for me was always to get my degree as soon as possible and then figure out what I want to do. I always thought that even if I didn't go into biology in the beginning if I got the degree I would always have the option of changing my mind without having to go back to school. As I get older, I'm not sure it's a smart idea to get a degree in something you want to 'come back to' instead of something you earnestly want to pursue.

To be totally honest, I really want to have a creative job. I adore biology and I find lab work really interesting but it's a bit soul-sucking (or at least my lectures are). I want to be able to express myself and do things my way. If nothing changes in me by the time I graduate, I think I will try to launch a writing career. I always viewed writing as something I would come back to after I got myself accomplished but now I'm thinking I want to try it out first while I'm young then try to fall back on biology if things don't work out. However, yet again I don't know if this is a smart idea.

Basically, I'm just in a rut right now. I can't decide if the decisions I've made are good decisions. I know I'm young and I have plenty of time but I still feel like I'm in a rush. I feel like I have to do things a certain way in order to be successful and if I go off of the trail I'll be lost forever.

Returning to Uni

I was only away from university for about two months, almost three but I must say it feels really good to be back. I love my campus and even though I have still yet to make any friends after a year, I still like being there. Studying is enjoyable to me, even though it can be tough to make myself do it. Just going to classes, sitting around campus, and riding my usual bus feels nice. Although I was wasn't gone for long, I missed going to university every day.

It's also really nice right now because there are fewer people around because it is summer. Things don't feel as stressful and crazy as they do during the normal school year. It's like I finally have a chance to enjoy the experience.

I was someone who romanticized university life before I ever experienced it and I had a lot of hopes for it. I must say it has only gotten better as time has gone on. At first, I didn't know what I was doing and couldn't understand how to do well in university. I haven't mastered it yet but I'm getting better. I'd say the only things university is missing for me are some friends and maybe a boyfriend. Those two things were included in my university expectations and although they haven't happened for me yet, I still have hope that they will. I have three more years so, at the very least, I think I can make one friend in that time.

I actually have a part-time job right now so I think having that experience of working just makes me appreciate my university life even more. I like my job, but it can be stressful since it requires a lot of interacting with people which exhausts me. In university, I can choose whether or not I want to be social which is something I cherish.  I want to make friends, but sometimes I just want to be alone and do my own thing. At my work, all the people I work with are really nice so it's a good atmosphere to be in. Despite how nice it is, I know it's not the sort of job I could keep up long term because I need something where I can be antisocial at times. I will admit having money is nice and I do feel more grown up now that I'm working. University is still the best place for me though.

It's Okay to Treat Yourself

Since I started university I have gone a little crazy about saving money. In the last eight months, I've spent less than sixty dollars on myself, that's including food. The reason I'm able to avoid spending money is that I still live at home so I don't need to worry about rent or meals. Regardless, I'm not sure this is the best way to live my life. I don't want to go and blow all my money but I don't want to continue being so crazy about saving.

Right now I don't have a job so that makes it really tough for me to decide to do something for myself. In my mind, it's clothing vs a textbook, and textbook always wins. I've gotten some help from my family to pay for my schooling but I don't have enough money to cover everything. Textbooks especially are going to drain my wallet. My goal right now is to get a job and work as many hours as possible until I go back to classes, but it can be tough to get a job with no experience.

My saving obsession has gotten to the point where I don't even spend money that is specifically for me to use such as Christmas money, birthday money, or babysitting money. I actually spent my Christmas money on textbooks.

That's why I decided to treat myself to something a little bit expensive. I went to the hairdresser and got a bunch of blonde streaks put in my hair. It was a bit hard for me to justify spending that money on myself but I worked so hard for eight months so I just decided to do it.

At the end of the day, life isn't just about working hard and saving money. What's the point of working hard if you aren't even going to do anything with your money? I'm not saying go out and blow all your savings but just know it's okay to treat yourself once in a while.

First Year Recap

Classes are over and exams are finished. It seems like a good time for a little recap on how the first year went.

First Semester:
I had no clue what I was doing 90% of the time. Everything was overwhelming and I felt like a complete failure. My grades were the worst they've ever been. I had no idea what I was doing wrong so I didn't know how to fix it. I realized yet again that I'm terrible at making friends; I come on too strong then don't know how to follow up with people. It was basically four months that destroyed my confidence.

Second Semester:
I started with a blank slate, not letting the mistakes from last semester make me lose hope for this one. I found a good study place that was quiet and made me feel guilty if I didn't study while I was there. My focus was staying optimistic. I studied better and my grades got higher. Also, I realized that it was stupid to beat myself up over not doing well on co-requisite courses because they weren't my focus of study. The first four months destroyed my confidence but these four months started to build it back up again.

Overall I'd say my first year didn't go too bad. I think I'm starting to reach the point where I can actually enjoy university which makes me really happy. I ended this year wanting to continue studying so I think that's the main thing. Even though it was tough, I never wanted to quit. I'll see this through until the end and one day I'll thank myself for it.

False Sense of Confidence: Exams

I had my last day of classes a couple of days ago and today I had my first final which was for chemistry. Despite the fact that I had plenty of time to study, I maybe spent three hours studying over a seven day period. I had notecards prepared already and I circled all the questions I should do in my textbook but I couldn't make myself study. Some may say it's a simple case of procrastination, I say it's a false sense of confidence.

What I mean is I don't study because I feel like I already know the material. In reality, I do not know the material. Thus a false sense of confidence.

Despite this, I felt like I did pretty good on my exam. I was able to solve the majority of the questions with only minimal guessing. I got tired near the end of the exam and I hadn't eaten much that day so my condition wasn't very good. Strangely I don't regret not studying. Even if I had studied, I don't think I would have done much better.

I did feel sort of bad about my habits when I was waiting to go into the exam. People around me were talking about how much they had been studying and how they only got three hours of sleep each night because they were up late studying. Meanwhile, I got around seven hours of sleep every night and had way too much free time. I felt like I was a slacker but I've never been the type to hardcore study. Even when I'm most productive I do maybe five hours of studying a day and I never let it interfere with my sleep. I'm not sure whether my way or their way is best.

Either, way I need to shake this false sense of confidence before my other exams. I'll do good on my math one regardless but I have no clue what's going on in physics so let's hope I actually study for that one.

What I Learnt From my First University Semester

1. High school and University are completely different, try to adjust fast. If you are having trouble don't get too upset about it and just give yourself a break because it is a huge change.

2. Most syllabuses are online now since professors don't want to waste paper so don't worry about losing one if you are given a paper copy. Write down any dates that are on there but depending on the class the syllabus could be extremely helpful or just very basic, so try to add your own deadlines for homework or studying so that you don't fall behind.

3. The textbook requirements don't change much in the last couple of weeks before classes start. You can wait until you attend the first couple of classes or you can buy them early. It really doesn't matter. However, lines at the bookstore are insane for the first week so be prepared to deal with that if you do wait.

4. Take a variety of classes at a variety of times. People say early classes are horrible but it may be different for you so try to figure out what's best. Personally, I've found that I can't do labs in the mornings because I'm too tired but I can follow along in early morning lectures since they are less involved. I've also found that I can't do lectures in late afternoon since I get really tired by the end of the day so I can't stand sitting and listening to someone talk for an hour or more but I can do labs around that time since it gives me a chance to move around after a whole day of sitting.

5. Space out your classes. Although it sucks to be at school for a long time, if you are like me and have trouble focusing at home, it's good to have that time between classes to study. It also gives you time to eat or hang out with friends.

6. No one cares if you eat/walk/study alone. Don't feel like a loser if you've had trouble making friends. University is about your education first and foremost so don't worry if your social life isn't great. Generally, most people are too busy studying to have a social life so don't feel like your the weird one for staying home all the time to do work.

7. If you do go to parties and drink, know your limit. Don't drink a lot just because other people are. Go easy the first couple of times until you figure out what your tolerance is. Getting black out drunk all the time isn't a good thing to do, just drink until you feel kinda drunk and stop there. Drink an enjoyable amount, not so much that you regret drinking in the first place.

8. University is not about going to parties, dating, or having a great social life; those are just bonuses you may or may not experience. It's for education. If you just want to have fun, don't go.

9. Although university can be a lot of hard work, remember to schedule in time to do things you want to do. Go for drives late at night, hang out with your friends, sit around watching movies all Sunday, practice your hobbies, etc. If you only focus on studying you are going to crash and burn really quickly. Stress is crazy in university so de-stressing is extremely important.

In the end, going to university isn't for everyone, it requires excellent balancing skills. Everyones' experience is different so just do things the way you want to. Take it easy at first and figure out how it all works, don't go crazy and take a bunch of classes right away or you'll regret it. Overall try to have a good time and get good marks.

Back to School

I had my first day of my second semester today. It's weird for me to be starting new classes in January since I've always been on a linear system but I'm adjusting. Overall things are okay, I'm kinda lonely but it's only the first day so I'm sure it'll get better.

The only bad things about today were just bad things about morning classes. My first class was at 8:30 am so I had to wake up at 7 am. I had trouble sleeping last night so I've been functioning on less than four hours of sleep. I really wanna take a nap but I know if I do I'll just mess up my sleeping pattern even more so I'm forcing myself to stay awake. The other bad thing was that I had to leave for my class so early that the sun wasn't even up yet. That's more of a bad thing about winter but it was still annoying for me that I had to leave when it was still dark out.

Wow, this post was fascinating... I guess that's what happens when you try to write a blog post when you're half asleep. Sorry, I just wanted to update since not much is happening lately.

How I'm Going to Make Myself Happy

Maybe it's because it's exam session or maybe it's the lack of direction I have but I haven't been feeling happy with my life lately. I've been putting a lot of stress on myself to get the required grades to be considered for a biology co-op however since I'm mainly doing required courses this year (ie not biology) it's been quite hard for me to do well. I have also been questioning my decision to do science since I've been missing writing.

Today after having a bit of a breakdown I figured out how to make myself happy. It turns out that I don't have to make a choice between science and writing. After a bit of researching, I figured out my university offers a minor in professional writing that I can do along side my biology major. I'm feeling great right now since this seems to be exactly the kind of thing I want to do with my education. Doing all biology or all writing isn't something I want to do but now that I figured out I can do both, I think I'm on my way to becoming happy with the direction my life is in.

Getting Over Lab Anxiety

I'm not sure lab anxiety is a real thing but that's what I'll call it. Basically a couple of months ago when I started university and experienced labs for the first time, I freaked out. My biology lab was fine because it was basically just looking at stuff and microscope work. Physics was the middle range and chemistry was the one that really stressed me out.

For biology and physics labs the work was done in partners so if I ever felt like I didn't know what was going on I could just ask my partner. In chemistry there were no partners, you were completely on your own. This was a big thing that scared me. There was also the fact that I had never been in a chemistry lab and did very few chemistry experiments in high school.

Even now I still have anxiety about my chemistry labs but it wasn't like it was at the beginning. After my first lab I got really anxious and the night before the second lab I was feeling really ill and tried desperately to figure out a way to miss it (since you can't skip labs without a doctor's note). I wasn't physically sick, it was just the anxiety that was making me feel like that. I ended up skipping my other classes that day but I made myself go to the lab. I did the experiment just fine but I was still shaky and didn't know my way around the lab. I had another freak out writing my lab report for the first time since my calculations wouldn't make sense. It took me around six hours to write my first report.

I think the only thing that helped me get over my lab anxiety was just going to the labs and getting used to the whole process. At the beginning of the lab, I still spend the first ten minutes or so looking around in confusion despite the fact that I read over the lab at least six times. However, I'm able to think about the labs without getting sick and I can sleep well the night before a lab so I think I've improved quite a bit. The only way I've ever been able to deal with my anxiety was to just do the thing that made me anxious, although it's hard, once I get used to a situation my anxiety calms down.

Funny thing is that I like my chemistry lab the best now. It's really hands on and I think I learn a lot by having to do everything on my own. It's easy to tell what you are getting marked for and there's no final lab exam, unlike biology.

Why I Choose My Major

It may seem a little weird for someone who is naturally good at English to pursue a degree in science. I, myself, question a lot why I chose to do what I'm doing now. However, there is a big reason why I decided to go down this path.

Throughout high school, I was quite bored. I felt buckled down since many of my classes I was forced to take. The class I was best at was English, however, my favorite class was always science, or biology when the sciences split up. Despite the fact that I could get high marks and receive praise for my English assignments I never put much effort into them and I honestly didn't care about the subject. Although I love writing, the thought of going to English class everyday numbed my brain.

Science, on the other hand, wasn't something that came naturally to me. I had to actually be engaged and work on it in order to understand. I became fascinated by all the diverse areas and I liked learning about why things did what they did. Biology was my key interest. Although many people took biology in high school because it was easier than chemistry or physics, I took it because I wanted to. To me, there was no better class at my high school than biology. I even took marine biology; it was a fun, interactive course but it made me realize I was unsuited towards it so now I'm probably going to pursue a human related field.

When it was time for me to decide what I wanted to study when I went to university I didn't even question my choice. Although I was undecided until my last year of high school, once I made the choice I was certain The reason why was that to me there was nothing left to learn in English. I could probably get through an English degree quite easily but it didn't seem worth it to me. I chose science because there are so many things I don't know about science. There are so many things I don't think I would be able to learn about if I didn't choose it as my area of study. I can always read books and improve my writing on my own but when would I get an opportunity to learn advanced science concepts? That's why, even though it's quite tough for me, I'm glad I choose sciences. The workload may be hard but I think it will lead me towards a place I want to be.

Lower Expectations

I'm really pathetic. Honestly, you'd be surprised what university had reduced me to. Let me explain.

Back in high school (I'm saying it like it was a long time ago even though it was less than six months ago) I was a student with an 83% average. I wasn't super smart but by my grades, I was considered above average. Now in university, I get excited when I find out I passed a midterm. Yup, I was almost an A student and now I get excited about passing.

It's quite sad when you think about it but I'm cutting myself some slack since it has been tough adjusting to university. I'm still trying to figure out how different professors teach and mark. Although I've been making mistakes I've also been trying to learn from them which I think is the important part.

My excitement about my marks depends on the subject. I got the same midterm mark for both chemistry and biology. I was over the moon about chemistry because I was sure I failed but I was extremely upset about biology because I thought I knew what I was doing.

It's okay for me to have these low expectations for now because I can't get upset and lose motivation for doing well on my finals since finals are the part of the course that actually matters. A low midterm mark is fine as long as I do better on the finals. Just like they say you can't let one bad day get you down, you also can't let one bad mark (or multiple bad marks) get you down. One day it'll be better so keep trying until you reach that day.

I Don't Know What to Do

I've been in university for two months now and I'm starting to question what I want to do with my life. Currently, I'm not failing any of my classes but I'm not doing that well either. This is the main reason why I've started to second guess my choices. These are the things I've been considering lately.

1. Just continue what I'm doing. I love biology but right now I don't even feel like I'm studying biology since I'm so busy with the other required sciences. My grades are quite low and I'm worried I'm not cut out for sciences and that I won't be able to make it through my required courses. Despite that, I could just persevere and try to find the will to keep going.

2. Transfer to pacific and Asian studies. The only course I'm actually enjoying right now is my modern Japanese culture class. Although I don't have any of the required classes I'd need for this program, I could switch into it since it's something I find interesting. If I go this route I'd probably end up being an English teacher in Japan.

3. Transfer to writing. Writing has always been a passion of mine. Ever since I was in grade seven I did as much writing as I could and even before I was serious about it, I liked to write little books when I was a child. Even now I haven't really given up on becoming an author one day. If I chose to do this I'd have to transfer programs and I would have pretty much wasted an entire semester since none of the courses transfer.

4. Quit university and go to college to become a nurse/dental hygienist/something along those lines. Maybe the problem is that university is too intensive. I see my friends doing well in college maybe that's something I'm more suited towards. Since I used to want to be a doctor maybe being a nurse would suit me or I could be a dental hygienist since I've always liked teeth.

5. Quit school altogether and get a job. Here I could give up completely and just find an entry level job somewhere probably as a secretary or sales associate. If I did this I would probably feel less stuck in life since I would feel like I was actually doing something because I was working and getting paid although it's highly likely I would regret this choice later on.

Honestly what I really want to do is number one but the problem isn't what I want to do, it's what I'm capable of doing. Right now I just feel like such a failure since I can't even get a good mark in biology which is what I'm supposed to be studying. I kinda planned to just get by with chemistry and physics but the fact that I can't even do well in biology is unnerving. I wish I had some motivation to do something, anything. I just feel so stuck and no matter how much I tell myself I should be studying I just can't find the will to do it.

I'm Overwelmed

I don't know what's wrong with me but I'm so stressed out right now. I don't have a midterm or anything big for another two weeks but for some reason, my condition is terrible right now. I don't feel like going to classes, or labs, or doing my homework, or even leaving my bed. I feel like all I've done for the past month is university work. I haven't had time to have fun because even when I have free time I'm worried about what needs to be done in the future.

I have two more months of classes then a month of finals. I guess since university terms are so short it feels like everything happens quickly. I'm used to having ten months to do all my school work and now I only have four months.

 I also have no idea how I'm doing in any of my classes since you don't find out any grades until you finish your midterms. I know the first year is supposed to be one of the hardest so I'm just trying to make it through. I didn't know I would feel this down. I have to somehow pick myself up and keep going but I have no idea how to find the motivation to do that. Studying at home isn't that bad but actually going to class makes me feel anxious right now, especially labs where I feel like I'm completely on my own. Hopefully, things get better but I'm not doing too well right now.

Lesson Learnt: Studying

It's been almost four months since I've had to study something and I kinda forgot how to do it.  I didn't expect to have to study so hard so soon. I have a math midterm in a couple of days and I guess I forgot how much time actual studying takes because I didn't leave myself enough time to study. I've been doing my homework since classes started so I'm not in too bad of shape but I'm still kinda worried that I don't have enough time to go through all the material.

Currently, I'm 1/4 of the way through my material. My test is in two days. I'm hoping to get half way through by the time I go to bed tonight but it's already getting late so I might just have to go super hardcore on the studying tomorrow. Of course, I have more classes than just math so I have to keep up with my other course work as well.

I've learned my lesson. Studying is hard and university requires a lot of studying. Please let me do well on my first university test!

Tips For Buying Textbooks

Today I went to buy my textbooks so I've decided to write out a couple of tips based on my experience.

1. Timing. Honestly, it doesn't really matter when you buy your textbooks but there are a few things to be aware of. If you wait until after classes start (like me) you'll be completely sure you're getting the right books but the lines will be obnoxiously long. If you buy them before classes start you won't have to worry about waiting in a long line but there is always a chance that the teacher has changed the required books so be aware of that as well.

2. Bring a friend. It doesn't have to be a friend, it could be a family member, or pretty much anyone you can convince to come with you. I had four classes I needed to buy textbooks for and I take sciences so I have a lot of heavy textbooks. I'm sure I looked pathetic carrying all those books by myself today and I know it would have been a million times easier if I brought someone along to help me. Lesson learnt, textbooks are heavy and hard to carry; especially when you are like me and have no upper body strength.

3. Be aware of money. Everyone knows textbooks are expensive so make sure you have enough money. The problem I came across was that although I had enough money in my account my card had a limit that stopped me from being able to buy everything I needed. I got my limit increased so now I'll be able to go back and buy what I couldn't today. Before you go to make a big purchase know if your card has a limit and if it does make sure the limit is big enough that you can buy what you need to.

Overall things went pretty well. Everything was easy to find and the cashiers were nice. I'll be going back tomorrow though to get the stuff I couldn't today. Situations like today really make me understand how useless I am when it comes to adult matters but I'm learning so it's okay.

So Tired

I got back from my orientation about three hours ago and I haven't left my bed since I got home. All day I was walking around, talking to people, and listening to speeches that went on for hours. I'm not sure if it was the walking that tired me out or all the people since I'm quite introverted. I was happy that we were all put into groups because I didn't have to worry about finding people to hang out with and I could just stick with my group. Throughout the day I met some nice people: the girl who I found the orientation with and hung out with until it started, the girl who I sat next to during the speeches who's in biology, the friendly guy who is also doing biology, and a couple of more girls from my faculty. I'm not sure if I'll see any of them again but I'm sure I'll meet more nice people in my classes. Overall it was nothing to stress out about and a great day. I'm a little worried about tomorrow since I have a two hour break between my classes with nothing to do and no one to hang out with but I'm sure it'll be okay.

My New Beginning

Today marks the first day of my new life. No longer am I a high school student, now I'm a university student. For the first time ever I'm completely responsible for myself. I may still live at home but I plan on doing as many things on my own as possible.

At first, it's going to be lonely. I'll feel overwhelmed and maybe I'll even regret my choices a little bit. The transition will be hard and I know that. However, it's just the beginning and I know I'll adjust. Soon university won't be so scary, I'll just be a place I go every day, just another school. Although I've spent the last few weeks being stressed out and nervous now I'm ready to let myself feel excited. I can't believe I'm lucky enough to go to university. It still shocks me that I'm old enough as well. I just feel like I'm starting to understand myself and now I'm doing this big adult thing. As much as I'm scared I'm also really happy to be able to do this.

Textbooks Are Not Easy To Find

A misconception I had about university textbooks was that it would be easy to find them for cheaper prices than the bookstore. You hear all about how great it is to buy used textbooks and how easy it is but it's not. I've been looking online and most of the time I find the books at higher prices than the bookstore. Also, a lot of books now come with digital codes which are necessary for class but guess what? Used books can't guarantee they will have those codes and online stuff that you need.

I feel really bad having expensive books since my grandma offered to pay for them and I don't want to burden her too much. One semester of books when you have a full timetable is like $800 and that's only half of the year! I'm hoping that you can use the same books for both semesters but I have a feeling I'll have to buy all new books for the second semester except for one class I have which is year long. The English books for my second semester are pretty cheap so it'll only be like buying books for three classes instead of five but I'm still hoping the books are good for the whole year since the classes kinda go hand in hand.

My only hope is that I'll be able to sell the books after I'm done using them but since there are always new editions coming out, that seems unlikely. Regardless of how things turn out I still feel bad.

One Week Left

I'm currently searching for as much information as I can on starting university. I'm reading about how to study well, how to dress properly, how to make friends, and basically any university related article I can find. You could say I'm a little nervous.

I have no idea where my summer went but it seems it's pretty much over. The summer weather is already gone and soon my freedom will be gone as well.

I don't know if I'm excited or scared for next week. I keep worrying about every little thing. What should I wear? Where should I sit? Where are the bathrooms? Where do I eat? What do I bring on my first day? When does the homework start? What are the people like? Are the classrooms really as big as you see on tv? When do I buy books? How long does it take them to come if you order them online? What are the lab rooms like?

Okay, I'll be honest I'm completely freaking out. I wish I knew someone who had gone to university or someone currently in university to help ease my mind. Sadly my family members don't have experience and I don't know anyone older than me. It seems like I'm just going to have to stress out for a while until I settle into university life. I'm so nervous!