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Anna-Marie
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Memphis: The Land of Oz
“Lions, and Tigers, and Bears… Oh my!” This week has been completely different from the normal. I do not know where to begin. Therefore, I guess I will start by introducing myself. My name is Anna-Marie and I am from Jackson, TN. I am a new freshman at the University of Memphis, majoring in elementary education. For this current academic year, I will be one of six freshmen who will act as your personal tour guide. You will get to experience the University of Memphis through both digital pictures we take and our personal journals. Unlike most personal journals, though, you do not have to worry about being caught while snooping through your older sibling’s room.
You may wonder why I started with The Wizard of Oz theme. Well, you see, I was raised in a small, college town. Furthermore, my high school was in a county without a single traffic light and held “Bring Your Tractor to School Day” every year. Don’t get me wrong. There was enough to do and I love my hometown, but I knew Memphis would be different. I was even a little intimidated. Yet, soon I found out how quickly things change.
I moved in early Thursday morning (note: great idea for freshmen), set up my room (definition: piled up boxes ceiling high), and relaxed with my family one last time. Moving in so early, I feared once my family left there would not be anything to do until class started on Monday. By the time class started, though, I had spent a fun-filled weekend meeting new people and going places. Not everywhere can you eat Thai food, observe Harley Davidson’s 100th Ride Home (by accident), and hang a hometown donut place at eleven at night. Unbelievably, that happened all in one night. I quickly learned, through both the University and the city of Memphis, that there is something here that meets everyone’s interests (and then some you didn’t know you had). I was fortunate enough to have my cousin, Beth, as my personal Memphis “tour guide” (okay, so maybe we got a little lost).
Even if you do not know anybody, though, there are many programs through the University to help you out. I, myself, participated in Freshmen Convocation (a new tradition), Honors Banquet (for incoming honors students), Noonday Lunch at the Baptist Student Center, etc. After my first weekend, I know there is no need to worry about keeping busy.
At the beginning of the year, of course, it is very easy to find something to do. All you have to do for most things is show up. I knew, though, I would have to start taking my own initiative in order to stay involved. The University offers many activities, butit is up to me to pursue the certain ones that interest me. Already I am looking into several groups including: Campus Crusaders for Christ, Freshmen Fit Program, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, International Student Association, Residence Hall Association, etc.
Yes, Memphis and the University are definitely different from my hometown. But, the “Lions, and Tigers, and Bears…”I found out were just figments of my imagination, fear of the unknown. Little by little, I am discovering that, instead of a scary “dark woods,” the University of Memphis is a world of opportunities (a sort of “Land of Oz”). Now, I have to figure how to stay on that “yellow brick road” and I will be fine.
P.S. I apologize for the hokey referrals to The Wizard of Oz. This was my warm up entry. I was stressed and laughter is the best cure (even if it’s just a pity laugh).
Here’s my desk. I’m in the process of getting things situated. (Actually, this is about as clean as my dorm room gets.)
Since you couldn’t really see my desk, here’s my roommate’s desk (clean unlike mine).
Pretty flowers make the bathroom bright and happy (and a lot more friendly) It just makes you want to take a shower.
These are my new friends Summer and Erica. I met them at High Point, a local church, and we bonded over an afternoon at the dollar store (who wouldn’t?) Summer is styling the lovely purple antennas, compliments of the dollar store.
Here the group’s hanging at O’Charleys for Noa’s “farewell” party (Noa only goes to college an hour away and comes home every weekend.)
On hot days, I come to this fountain to think “cool” thoughts. (Of course, the next day a flood came.)
This is one of my favorite places on campus, the rose gardens across from Mynders Hall.
I took a close up and noticed later that one of the roses were dead (Well, the living one is pretty.)
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