Lessons Learned: A Collection of Thoughts

I have finally finished my first semester of graduate school, which is kind of ridiculous and crazy to think about. My first semester at a new university, with a new set of friends, new surroundings, new town, new part of Ohio for me to live in. A lot of "news." So, what have I learned in this first semester? Here's a list of some serious, and not-so-serious "lessons":

1. When moving in, one should have systematic order for unpacking boxes and organizing their contents.

2. At Kent State, it's important to order a parking pass approximately 6.894267 months before you will ever use it, unless you enjoy walking uphill in a blizzard.
3. Listening to worship music and praying while walking to campus can be a great way to spend a little time with Jesus throughout the day.
4. Somewhere around October, your body replaces the blood in your system with coffee.
5. Why order Papa John's, when Guys is less than a mile down the road?
6. Procrastination kills.
7. At some point, learning when to say "no" can save your life.
8. Northeast Ohio drivers are out to kill.
9. Always plan for technology to be a hater.
10. If BG Parking Services were considered Nazis, KSU Parking Services must be Fascists.
11. God likes sitting in on Research Methods courses. If you listen, He'll even weigh in His thoughts, too.
12. Cello strings are not harmless, they will attack.
13. Some students think the word "OPTIONAL" is written at the top of the syllabus. In light of this, I think I'd like to add, "Thou shalt obey mine commands." Just a suggestion, though.
14. Black squirrels are faster than brown squirrels. Nigh uncatchable.

15. The weather people in Northeast Ohio are pointless.
16. Keeping your office door shut, and one row of lights off is a useful for tricking students, and some professors, into thinking you aren't in your office.
17. Using hot pink staples in the stapler is not professional.
18. Sometimes it's okay to sound stupid in class, as long as you can reasonably defend what you just said. Key word: "reasonably"
19. Stand by what you believe in. This includes Jesus, the Bible, and the fact that you aren't writing a thesis.
20. The next time you consider BSing an assignment, remember what it feels like when you read your students' BSed work... because when you turn in that BSed assignment, your professor, too, will feel offended.
21. Chipotle is a reward, coffee is an essential.
22. If you forgot what being a college student is like because you were out in the field teaching, don't worry, you'll remember how to stay up half the night working on homework by the middle of the semester.
23. Unnecessary amounts of snow are constantly dumped on Cleveland. The only time 2+ feet of snow is ever useful is when it cancels classes.
24. College undergrads, even the most mature ones, will still act like 5th graders when armed with percussion drum sticks.
25. The rock stops to cellos/basses ratio and rosin to violins/violas ratio will NEVER be equal.
26. Wolf resistors are our friends.
27. Bach went to jail at least twice in his career, once for an incident that may have resembled a bar fight.
28. Josquin may have been a good looking man.
29. God LITERALLY will never leave you. He's always there. Always.
30. Keep your priorities straight. Keeping in communication with long-distance friends is always better than being a workaholic.

31. We will break more promises that we make to ourselves than I think we will break with others.
32. Getting more sleep will prevent one from running into doors.
33. Just because it's microwavable doesn't mean it's edible.
34. In 15 degree weather, heat is completely optional (according to College Towers).
35. Everyone has a God meter. How full is yours? When is it fullest? How do you refill?
36. Popping out papers is NOT the same thing as popping out babies.
37. Staying in close contact with great friends makes the long distance A LOT shorter.
38. A Golden Flash is a distressed brown bird, and a Zip is a kangaroo.
39. It's okay if you miss a day at the rec, as long as you don't use the elevator the next day going from classrooms on the 1st floor to offices on the 3rd floor.
40. Bassoon reeds are cool!
41. The Zephyr does NOT have a tree in the middle of their establishment, only an outdoor patio with a tree next to it.
42. The BG Falcons may not be that great at football, but at least they're not as bad as Akron!
43. Clear, direct communication is essential the first time, even if it means losing a good friend.
44. Practicing multiple instruments post-undergrad is A LOT harder than it sounds. A LOT.
45. God will answer our prayers, but it's usually never in the way we expect. When we learn to stop trying to control our lives and God, we can better appreciate and enjoy God's answers and blessings.
46. Even though a college town, nothing in Kent is EVER open as late as it is in Bowling Green.
47. Voldemort has a wife. And she teaches music.
48. When writing any paper longer than 5 pages, make sure you pick a topic that you know you will enjoy, and some topic out of convenience. That bites you in the butt in the end, too.
49. God never promises to take us out of anything, but if we're there, He promises to get us out, and to use it for His glory. He WILL get the glory, in the end.
50. Beauty is fleeting and charm is deceptive.
51. Yes, you can play that high on a violin. Unfortunately.
52. Northeast Ohio in the fall is absolutely beautiful.

53. Bang! is addictive.
54. Rock, paper, scissors always settles who gets to answer the office phone.
55. Be careful, if you think you stand firm. The devil is out prowling around like a lion.
56. When we're the weakest, Jesus is the strongest. Meaning, when He shows up and prevails in our lives and works our weakness for His glory, there is literally no other explanation except through His mercy, grace, and love.

Oh, I'm sure there are others... but those are probably some of the bigger ones. After reading some of those it makes one wonder: What will I be learning next semester?