The classes are connected by a common issue, text, or a natural overlap in their content, and are comprised of the exact same set of students. (That definition is taken directly from the Belmont website; I couldn’t think of a better way to explain it.) My linked classes are Speech and Mass Media and Society. I wasn’t crazy about them at first because I don’t exactly love public speaking and I thought that Mass Media and Society might be boring; however, I know that Speech will be a good experience for me and Mass Media sounds like it will be much more interesting than I expected. All of my teachers are really great so that definitely helps to make class more enjoyable.
I think that Intermediate Composition could potentially be my favorite class this semester…although Intro to Education should be equally as enjoyable. The education class is only on Tuesday mornings, so I’ll have to wait until next week. Intermediate Composition meets twice a week and I’m very excited about it. My professor introduced the course by reading a lyric essay by Terry Tempest Williams, entitled "Why I Write." It was an incredible piece and I found myself agreeing with nearly every statement she made. Some of my favorites include: “I write to make peace with the things I cannot control,” “I write to create fabric in a world that often appears black and white,” “I write to the music that opens my heart,” “I write because it is the way I take long walks,” and “I write with the colors of memory.” After reading the essay, we wrote for ten minutes about why we, personally, write and then shared our thoughts. I can't wait to see where this class leads me.

I’m taking another Jog/Run class this semester, but I have a different professor than I had last time. We are expected to work up to being able to run three miles each class period (every Monday and Wednesday), which should be very manageable. The Country Music Marathon and ½ Marathon are coming up this spring, and I think it would be a great goal for me to run the ½ Marathon! It would be a total of 13.1 miles, which sounds really intimidating…but I’m up for the challenge. I think that the hardest part of running for 13 miles straight (after I’ve trained for it, of course) would be focusing. I usually get mentally tired before I get physically tired when I’m running, so I often don’t run as far or as long as I probably could. I’ve heard that the Country Music Marathon is a pretty big deal, so hopefully I will be able to experience it.

Over the break I was thinking about what a huge transition the past six months of my life have been. I always knew I wanted to go away to college but I don’t think I ever realized what a life-changing, ongoing transition it would be. Leaving home this time (to return to Nashville) was easier than it has ever been before. I'm sure that this was mainly due to the fact that I had just spent three weeks in KC, but I also think that it's just getting easier to adjust to leaving home. It has almost become a routine; it is no longer as awkward or tearful as my first departure from Kansas City to Nashville was. While I still really miss my family and friends, I know that this is where I'm meant to be at this point in my life. It's great to be able to keep in touch with everyone through text messaging, Facebook, etc. and, most of the time, home doesn't seem nearly as far away as it actually is. I absolutely love it here at Belmont and can't wait to see what the future holds.