03/22/04– There are many things I have learned over the past few years that I wish I had known right when I started going to school here. This applies to many aspects of my life, but I’d like to share some of the things I’ve acquired about Sac State in particular. First, and most importantly, is parking. Come early; leave while classes are in session, not in between normal class time. For example, if you leave at 11:50 on a Tuesday, it will probably take about 30 minutes to get off campus, whereas leaving at 12:10, a mere 15 minutes later, can save bundles of time. This also depends in where you park. I always, ALWAYS park in Parking Structure 1, for several reasons: First of all it is a structure rather than a lot, so getting to your car will take less time. Also, most spots are covered which is great when it’s raining and during the hot months. And finally, it is mostly veterans who park there. These veterans understand that, at 8:30 in the morning, it is pointless to drive 3 mph on the second level looking for a spot because there is no way there will be one. They are also typically better parkers and also are more likely to know parking structure etiquette. 03/19/04– I know that it is only a very small percentage of Sac State students who live in the dorms, but I think that, for those of us who have experienced it, there is much to be said about them. My first week in the dorms was terrible; it was my first semester at Sac State and I was sicker than I had ever been. I spent most of every day in bed in a NyQuil-induced haze. My roommate, who was seeing me at my worst the first week we actually met, was so helpful, kind, and very respectful of my pitiful condition. At least I didn’t have to worry that I had a bad roommate.

I remember the food most of all. Except for breakfast, it was really, really bad. I knew 3 people who got food poisoning that semester. I also remember that in the room next to mine, a girl would have to get up really early for a sport she was involved in, so I would hear her country music playing at 4:30 A.M. every day. I liked being so close to campus, having only to roll out of bed at 8:45 to get to my 9:00 class, and I loved living with my friends nearby. All in all, I would absolutely do it again. Except I wouldn’t eat at the D.C.03/18/04– I have officially finished my first wave of midterms and am anxiously awaiting spring break, so that instead of working 30 hours per week and going to school I can work 60 hours that week and not go to school. I have yet to have one spring break where I actually had a vacation. To me, it’s the time in between winter break and summer that I get a chance to make enough extra cash to get me through the rest of the semester until summer, at which point I become one with the rat race. I think that when I am in grad school, I am purposely take a really light load of classes in the spring so I can work the whole time except spring break.