Editor’s note: The Guilfordian is interested in hearing from First-Year students about their experience at Guilford thus far.Has the college lived up to your expectations? Is the college you attend the same as the one to which you thought you were applying? How have your perceptions of Guilford evolved over time?

Editorials can be submitted via our webpage, www.guilfordian.com, emailed to [email protected], or dropped in the box outside the publications suite. Consult the staff box on page 10 for more guidelines .

This series began with Julie Balasalle’s piece, “Why I Chose Guilford,” and continues this week with the following article filed by Michael Fulp.

I have 21 books for four classes.

So as my parents and I left the campus bookstore, I don’t know which was funnier to those that saw us, the expression on my face that I knew I would have to read all these books, or my dad’s expression after buying them all.

To sum up everything, my whole life has been leading up to college.

So when I was moving into my dorm room last August, the only thing I could keep thinking about was whether I was going to just totally flunk out, and end up in some dead-end job or at some other school I didn’t even like in the first place.

I came into Guilford with the strategy of just trying to get used to my new surroundings, and do decently in my classes. I knew that there were going to be a lot of hurdles I would have to clear to be totally successful here.

I knew coming in that Guilford is one of those schools that doesn’t just teach you literary terms and math equations, but also how to think critically as well.

All my teachers thus far, as I had expected, have been challenging me. For example, I studied for hours for a business exam and barely passed it.

Overall, though, I’m glad I decided to come to Guilford. I have met more people who think like I do, and respect others as I try to.

Many of my close friends have said that school is just school, and not special to them. To me Guilford has been like entering a new world, a world that is a melting pot of different values and ideals.

Already in two months time I feel different.

I feel a little more mature, and I think I am gaining a better grasp on the outside world. This is a positive sign for me, walking in the right direction.

Honestly, I still don’t know what I want to do.

I still enjoy history and business, but new subjects like philosophy and religious studies look appealing as well.

Still, having seen what two months have done for me so far, maybe by the time I graduate I’ll have some of my priorities straightened out and will know what I want to do with my life.