Yesterday was officially the start of the penultimate chapter of my undergraduate career. And I feel it, because at one point I reminded my mother that I had been here for eight semesters now and the number surprised me. The last four years have all kind of blended into one blobby, English-driven experience. I still remember my first year vividly: being nervous about finding classes, making friends, getting good grades. I remember eating lunch with the same people from high school, going to the gym like a mad woman, and yet still eating Panda Express almost every day. Then, almost three years ago, I met The Captain and my expected college experience changed…for the better.

So here I am, in my last spring semester as an undergraduate, and I’m ready to take on the world. I’m taking 12 credits (which is about as much as I can handle academically), also have a 3-credit internship on the way, and am looking for a job. I feel like I’m finally starting to get it together and figure out some version of adulting. I’m also doing something different this semester that I’ve never done before—all my classes are on the same day, twice a week. Basically, it’s like elementary school because my first class starts at 9:30, I get forty-five minutes for lunch, and I get out of my last class at 3:45. And, so far, I love it! I had energy all day long and was super focused from beginning to end.

The Captain and I are working at getting up early, having a healthy/happy start to the day, and being prepared for everything. So we got up and I washed my face, did my hair, and went downstairs to put away the clean dishes, get started at breakfast, and eat. A yummy breakfast of eggs, grits, and coffee later I got ready for school. I left a little earlier in case the construction on campus affected my walk to class, and the weather was perfect. It was cloudy, a light rain pattering down, and I listened to Kacey Musgraves as I walked.

My first class was History of Women in the United States, and I think that it’s going to be an informative, fun class. We’ll be studying the entire history from the pilgrims to as close to modern day as we can get. There will be a couple of projects and I’m already trying to figure out what kind of subject I’d be most interested in learning about. There’s actually a kid I went to 1-12^th grades with in this class, but I don’t think we’re going to miraculously become buddies now.

My second class (and the one I was most looking forward to) is Principles of Modern Grammar otherwise known as Syntax. This is taught by the professor I got to know last semester in his Linguistics class and I know that I’m going to learn a lot about a fascinating subject. The format is the same so I’m definitely going to have to study a lot for the exams, but I have faith that I’ll do well if I do.

I had a nice lunch break, ran into someone I had a class with last semester, and we chatted for a bit about the class and how we did. Then somehow that turned into a conversation about grad school and fan fiction. It was actually pretty awesome and engaging.

After lunch I got to go to my most intimidating class: Advanced Nonfiction. You’re probably thinking—it’s writing, why are you scared? I write a lot of things (short stories, poetry, novels, fan fiction, etc.) but I don’t have too much experience with professional writing for magazines, businesses, and all that ‘real life’ stuff. It sounds like it’s going to be my hardest class of the semester, but I know that I can learn a lot and do well if I work at it.

My last class of the day is Women & Politics, or more aptly called Race & Gender. I know that this is going to be an eye-opening, informative, and fun class and I already love the professor. It’s going to tie in well with my History class, and I think I can bring what I learn into my life and integrate it with my writing and more.

After a day full of classes I celebrated with a No Bake Cookie and went home. I’m definitely going to start enjoying my days and time at school a little more than my time at home, because home is a little stressful at the moment. Anyway, I think that I’m going to follow up My Best Semester Ever with an even better one and that the penultimate chapter of my undergrad career is going to be awesome.

So bring it on, school. I’m ready.