Monday, September 24, 2018

What I Wish I Knew When I Was a Freshman

This year has been consumed by the move of 2018. Over the last six months I have spent a great majority of my life packing, purging, moving, and now unpacking and purging again. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. Seriously, moving stinks. But, occasionally I have stumbled across a gem or two that is worth sharing, and this is one of them. 

I found a printout of "what I wish I knew when I was a freshmen." I have no idea where this came from, or who sent it to me, but I can tell it was printed on 9/4/2001. If you know where this originated from, please let me know so that I can give them credit for it; because it's pretty darn amazing. So, here it is! Oh, and if you're going to the ND vs. Stanford game this Saturday, pack your GREEN! 

What I wish I knew when I was a freshmen at Notre Dame ...

  • A National Championship in football was not included in my tuition payment.
  • A National Championship in football was also not included in my room and board.
  • Access to the University of Notre Dame library was included in my tuition payment.
  • Bookstore Basketball is the biggest event of the spring semester, bar none.
  • Four years could seem like four months.
  • The "Notre Dame Connection" we hear so much about in the job world works for graduates from outside of the College of Business, as well. It just takes longer.
  • Every freshmen deserves a chance to start fresh, no matter what people thought of them in high school.
  • In The Observer, the appearance of 53 instances of misspelling or poor grammar in a single issue results in the editor-in-chief remarking, "Hey gang, nice job today!"
  • No matter how bad it looks outside, Club 23's juke box makes it one of the coolest bars in South Bend.
  • I'll never be in this place, with so many talented, good people, again in my life. Ever.
  • That kid down the hall that I didn't talk to freshman year could end up being a life-long friend.
  • Members of the opposite sex like you for reasons you can't quite comprehend. And you never get why they hate you, either. 
  • US Military Prisons have barracks with better facilities than Campus View Apartments.
  • You don't have to get hammered and hook-up to have a good time at an SYR.
  • I shouldn't have turned down that hot chick who asked me out because I was too lazy to walk to Pangborn from North Quad to pick her up.
  • Giggling in class every time someone says "depends," "moist," or "member" is not a good idea.
  • There are some members of the administration who listen to and are excited by great ideas from students, and who do all they can to help them implement those ideas.
  • Taking the chance to study abroad could change your life.
  • Some of the coolest, hippest, most interesting music available today is found on WVFI, not on 92.9 FM, South Bend.
  • With just a little ingenuity, open-mindedness, and creativity, there are some great date restaurants in South Bend.
  • The conversations one has late night with one's roommates and friends are a large part of what matters to you down the line. They build friendships, they help you learn, and they're a great place to share ideas. Note: If all you and your friends talk about late night is what might have happened with Led Zeppelin if John Bonham hadn't died, find new friends. 
  • Feeling a little homesick is natural.
  • There are many things more important than grades.
  • There are many things more important than getting hammered.
  • The guys down the hall who appear to know everything sometimes know almost nothing that matters.
  • Skipping class to play video games is rarely a good idea.
  • Skipping class to toss a baseball around on the first nice day of spring is often a good idea.
  • Going to church, even though my parents aren't making me anymore, is a good idea most of the time.
I hope you enjoyed that little blast from the past. And now, back to unpacking I go! 

Cheers & GO IRISH! 

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Love Thee Notre Dame

It’s not a Notre Dame working weekend for me, and while I will miss not seeing the game in person, I am secretly thrilled to be home on a weekend for the first time in four weeks. I’m still not comfortable being in the press box, or on the sidelines, but I’m working on it. Every week, every time I work a game, I’m working on it.

Maybe, someday, I’ll be happy with how I’m doing, but I’m just not there yet. And no, I may not be a “real journalist,” or a football “expert,” but I’m learning, and growing, and soaking up as much information as I possibly can. My opinions and beliefs may not be perfect, or even right, but they are mine, and they’re all that I’ve got. I do this because I love it, and it’s a passion of mine, but I’m not sure that I’m good at it yet, or ever will be.

I hope you enjoy my writing, and my coverage of Notre Dame football, and I hope I’m not a disappointment to the “real writers” out there. And, while I’ve got you here, I’d just like to say thank you. Thank you for following me and supporting me on this journey. Love thee Notre Dame.

Cheers & GO IRISH!