Five stages of your first semester at UNC

Upon attending this wonderful University, I thought it would only be fair to share my first year experience with my fellow Heels. 

Here's what actually happened these past few months:

Stage one: Literally where am I?

UNC is an enormous school and naturally, as a first-year, I had no idea where I was going at all at any point. 

Half the time I pretty much just asked anyone that was significantly taller than me with a beard if I was going the right way, which never failed me. The other half of the time I spent trying to find my lost key that was someplace I didn’t even know how to get back to.

Stage two: Who are you?

During these past few months I have met so many people that I genuinely can’t keep up. 

It’s safe to say I have at least 10 contacts in my phone that I could never find again, because I don’t even remember their names. 

So I just casually stick with the smile and wave when I see people around and say “Hey I remember you from that one place at that one time that was cool."

Stage three: Dude what are you saying to me right now?

UNC, aka nickname nation (okay, I'm the only one who calls it that), is filled with at least 10,000 abbreviations and nicknames for places and different things on campus. At first, I had no idea what anyone was saying half the time or why I kind of thought everyone was saying yolo instead of YoPo.

Stage four: I’m doing everything and nothing simultaneously.

Knowing the consequences, I signed up for too many clubs and involved myself in so many things totally thinking that homework was going to be plausible in between all of the clubs and a social life. Turns out being studious is actually a really complicated concept. And so far I’ve realized my version of being studious is getting something to eat.

Stage five: Define money.

Spending money inevitable, but I managed to spend an exceptional amount of money extremely quickly. Being surrounded by a million restaurants, and being five minutes away from a Starbucks makes it very easy to spend like Kim Kardashian at a dress store. In other words, I'm broke. 

@aiexishinnant