Generally unpleasant. :-( This was not the fault of my roommates, my classes, or my professors. Though I didn't realize it at the time -- I had pretty good support networks in my hometown -- I was sliding toward mild clinical depression in my teens. I also do not make close friends easily. So when I was suddenly in a new place without any of the people and social structures I was used to relying on to yank me back out of the well at the center of my mind, I just fell straight down. It wasn't constant depression -- I was luckier than many people who have similar experiences -- but still. Worst years of my life, hands down, despite the many good patches.
I did enjoy my chemistry labs, the opportunity to learn about all kinds of random things, the ability to keep up my fluency in German (which I have, as you can see, since let slide), and Ithaca in general. And I had an awesome UU campus group, which is probably one of the things that kept me from completely going to pieces at a couple points.
Hmm. That was also the time when I spent two summers (and winter breaks) working food service at an assisted living center in New Jersey, which was an interesting and character-building experience that I have no desire to repeat. I really liked the residents, but it was upsetting to watch them deteriorate and sometimes die. And occasional thirteen-hour shifts are nobody's friend, even when you're 19 years old and can do things like stay up 24 hours in a row just for the hell of it without suffering consequences.
During the year I took a psychiatric medical leave and attempted to rearrange the inside of my head, I had a job teaching home school for two local kids. I got that via the wife of the then-minister of my church, and that was also an interesting and character-building life experience. This one is something I would be willing to repeat, should opportunity arise. :-) That helped me realize that work is something that grounds me and helps me shoulder through my blue funks, whereas being in college with no job left me without an anchor and vulnerable to the gray fog that always lurks around the edges of my blue funks, just waiting to turn back into full-fledged depression if I give it an opening.
And that is undoubtedly more than you wanted to know, so I will shut up now. :-)
no subject
I did enjoy my chemistry labs, the opportunity to learn about all kinds of random things, the ability to keep up my fluency in German (which I have, as you can see, since let slide), and Ithaca in general. And I had an awesome UU campus group, which is probably one of the things that kept me from completely going to pieces at a couple points.
Hmm. That was also the time when I spent two summers (and winter breaks) working food service at an assisted living center in New Jersey, which was an interesting and character-building experience that I have no desire to repeat. I really liked the residents, but it was upsetting to watch them deteriorate and sometimes die. And occasional thirteen-hour shifts are nobody's friend, even when you're 19 years old and can do things like stay up 24 hours in a row just for the hell of it without suffering consequences.
During the year I took a psychiatric medical leave and attempted to rearrange the inside of my head, I had a job teaching home school for two local kids. I got that via the wife of the then-minister of my church, and that was also an interesting and character-building life experience. This one is something I would be willing to repeat, should opportunity arise. :-) That helped me realize that work is something that grounds me and helps me shoulder through my blue funks, whereas being in college with no job left me without an anchor and vulnerable to the gray fog that always lurks around the edges of my blue funks, just waiting to turn back into full-fledged depression if I give it an opening.
And that is undoubtedly more than you wanted to know, so I will shut up now. :-)