the almost-college life

A photo posted by Rachel (@ineedadelorean) on Jan 23, 2015 at 4:53am PST

I took my first college class last Friday. In spite of my first-day jitters, it went well; the people there are friendly, the cafe area is cozy, and the library, albeit on the smaller side, has an amazing selection of books. I'm not sure what I should have expected of community college, but it's hard to not feel nervous about something you've never done before.

I will admit, I have this weird thing where I love taking classes. When I was fifteen and taking Driver's Ed, everyone else thought it was boring, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. I had an amazing driving instructor and I found driving to be fun and not as terrifying as I thought it'd be. The three hours I spent in a second-story classroom twice a week were some of the most peaceful and enjoyable hours I had to look forward to. That calm, easy yet productive environment seems to apply to the classes I'm taking.

I should probably mention that I'm not actually in college yet. I'm still just a high school junior. I'm doing dual enrollment at a local community college for the spring semester. I'm taking college compositions and digital photography. I've only had one of each class so far, but I enjoyed both of them. Yesterday's blizzard and today's cancellations have helped with getting all the homework done.

Honestly, I'm excited about this. It's a new thing, a fresh start for me. Goodness knows I've needed one of those for a long time.

revisiting.

I recently finished reading I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith for the second time. The first time I read it, I was fifteen, it was Christmas break and it was the book on which I chose to do a book report. I picked up again last year at the exact same time of year - Christmas break - and I was having trouble falling asleep at night. However, I found that reading before bed helped me, so I decided on reading I Capture the Castle before bed because it was calm enough that it wouldn't traumatize you but there's a sense of suspense that makes you turn the pages until you drift off. I Capture the Castle is considered a classic, but it's lesser known than, say, Austen because it had gone out of print for a long time. 

It's a delightful book. The narrator, Cassandra, documents the happenings of her life while also pondering the important things as she skims the edge of adulthood. I'm in awe of Dodie Smith's ability to put into words the emotions and experiences that adolescents and writers can relate to. It takes on a quality of timelessness without the help of a flashy Penguin cover. 

I realized while reading this book just how much I love rereading books. I get why some people don't do it - you already know what's going to happen so what's the point? For me, though, some books demand me to read them again. Maybe I dreaded it too much because I was in school (Anne of Green Gables), I read it quicker than the speed of lightning (The Fault in Our Stars), or I just didn't understand it when I first read it (The Secret Garden, which I received when I was seven, mind you). There are some books that you can just visit and then leave, not because you didn't like the book, but you've taken from the book what needed to be taken. And then there are some books you just live in. You start out the first couple of chapters getting familiar with things, like reuniting with old friends after not seeing them in a long time, before really getting into the swing of things. You'll pick up on details and descriptors you might have overlooked last time, and certain quotes and themes resonate with you depending on where you are in life. You can drop in and out of the book at any time because the book takes on such a quality of realism that it ebbs and flows with the rest of your life.

Even if you don't reread books regularly, if you find a book that you can read over and over again, keep it. It's a treasure.   

all the more: a list

In 2015, I want more

• good books
• bubble baths
• delicious homemade meals
• green smoothies
• comfy clothes
• sleep 
• stories/poems written
• laughter
• flowers
• pretty dresses
• adventures and get-togethers with friends
• vinyl records
• playlists with good music
• compassion and sincerity towards others
• veggie burgers
• staycations
• cups of tea and hot cocoa
• snuggle time with my dog
• relaxation time outdoors
• patience
• pleasant memories