Extra bit of advice:

If you want to be a successful bar hopper in college you must remember two things:

1.    If you're looking to get drunk, don't go to the bar sober because it is too expensive.  Not only will you have to buy yourself drinks, but you also have to pay for the girls.  You won't realize how much you've spent till the next morning when you don't have money to do laundry.

2.    Don't go to a bar looking for a relationship.  Girls always make the correct assumption that males are at the bar to get lucky.  When you buy them a drink they're not thinking, "Wow, maybe this guy really likes my personality!"  Take it for what it is.  They know what we want, and, although more subtle, we know what they want.  If you're looking to get married, look in class, the library, or the gym.  The bar is not the place.

Last night was the first night I truly "went out" in college.  In high school I did my fair share of partying, but people kept telling me, no matter how crazy you were in high school, college parties are just different.  So because I know a few upperclassmen at Maryland I went to one of their houses for a frat party.  It was kind of weird for me to go out with this new group of people that I barely know, when, in high school, I partied with the same group every night for four years.

When we got to the party the women were abound and the beer was flowing.  One thing I learned very quickly was that if you want to fill up your drink, give your cup to a girl because guys don't typically have "front of the line" access, unless its your own party.

So after a few drinks we decided to hit the bars.  It was great to go out with a new group of friends, although I often found myself telling stories from back home.  All in all, it was a pretty crazy night that reassured me, although high school was a party, college life is where its at.

So I am almost don't with my first real week of college classes. Everything has kind of been a blur since I've gotten here. 

In high school I was in a class of no more than 20, and now my classes are held in stadium seating theaters with upwards of 200 people.  I now see how, if not properly prepared by parents and high school experiences, one could easily get behind on schoolwork.  It's all up to me now.  No due dates, no weekly notebook checks, no study guides, just papers and exams.

For the first week, I've made sure to stay up with the reading and go to all my classes, but, unfortunately, I worry about my ability to keep it up.  The classes are hard just by themselves, but, unlike high school, I have to worry about class while at the same time adjusting to life on my own and making new friends.

Luckily, from what I've heard from my high school buddies, they're going through the same thing.  I guess it's a right of passage in the college life.  Until next time…

I've finally made it.  As I sit in my dorm room getting ready for my first college class a few things come to mind. 

First and foremost, how on earth am I going to live in a room the size of a pantry for the next year?  All I have to call my own is a twin size bed (which doesn't fit my 5'11" frame), a small desk, and one small Atlanta Braves poster.  It is going to take a little getting used to, to say the least.  After I get over my material shortages, it finally hits me.  No matter what possessions I gain in my future, there is one thing I will never have for the rest of my life: someone telling me to wake up from my nap and clean my room.  Hallelujah!  This pantry I am sitting in will be the home to countless episodes of beer-filled football, late-night sleepovers, worry-free naps, and maybe, if I have time, a little schoolwork.  I think I'll get used to this pretty quickly.  Now I have to go meet my neighbors.  Its fairly odd to think these kids will be my friends for the next few years, and I don't even know them.  I'm sure it will all turn out fine, as long as I can get over the nasally New York accent.  Here we go.

Its Sunday morning. 

Actually, most people would consider it to be the afternoon, but, to me, 2:00 pm is still the morning.  After a long night of football and partying yesterday, all I want to do is sit around, watch a movie, and maybe take a nap if I have time. 

If I were still at home this would be impossible, but not here.  I have all day to do whatever I want.  That is one of the best things I have found about college.  I work on my own schedule, and the only thing I have on that schedule today is a 5pm nap and maybe some late night laundry.

 Life is good at UMD… at least on Sundays.