First weekend on campus...Jayden headed back to Ames to stay in the dorm Saturday night. Her roommate left for the weekend and she met a couple girls on her dorm floor that wanted to go see the hypnotist. There were lots of things planned for the incoming freshmen all weekend long. That is those that wanted to go, the rest of campus was in full party mode. Apparently, as I learned from Jayden, Saturday was the biggest party day of the year on campus. They call it 801, at 8:01 Am the sororities and fraternities can officially start drinking and they drink all day and night. Jayden's dorm is right in between the Greek homes. She has a lot of sorority girls on her dorm floor. It isn't just the Greeks that party, it's all around. I think it was all kind of a culture shock for Jayden. Since move in day on Wednesday, Jayden discovered her roommate does in fact have a boyfriend who will be visiting often. She met the dorm building supervisors, who have to identify by the proper pronoun they want to be identified with, as in he/him or she/her. It is a thing now, because some males want to be females and vise versa. Ugh! They told them no drinking unless of age, public drinking will get you arrested, but if you drink in your dorm just put a hide it when the RA walks in. They told them "when" you are with your boyfriend, be sure to warn your roommate so they don't walk in on you. Also lots about how many nights your "guest" can stay in a row. Ugh! Jayden observed the sororities first hand, watching all week as the girls got dressed up skimpy and sexy, hair and make-up like movie stars and flaunt around. They recently had a rose ceremony take place in their front yard lawns. The girls sit in their skimpy dresses out front and the frat boys in suit and tie give a girl a rose that they like. Some girls get 8 roses, some girls get none. WOW! that seems so wrong.
Day one, first day of class it was raining and Jayden hadn't quite figured out the bus system. She followed a girl that was headed to the bus and they talked about how it worked. As the bus pulled up and kids piled on, the girl Jayden was standing with got on, the bus doors closed and pulled away. It was full and she stood there in disbelief. So, she walked to class. Looking at her schedule she told me she was going to have to talk to her advisor because one day in the week she had only 50 minutes between class for lunch and that just wasn't enough time. I was laughing inside. Oh my dear, I told her most of the time at the noon hour classes end at 10 till and start again at 10 after. That gives everyone 20 minutes and in that time you eat and walk to your next class. I used to grab my sandwich out of my bag, eat it standing and walk on to class. There is no lunch break. Day two, I got a text that she has to walk from one class to another and she said there was physically no way to do that in enough time. She asked if she should take the bus or walk. I told her to walk and she made it in plenty of time. Right now the campus seems so huge and intimidating. In all my years, taking the bus was not as efficient as walking. You can take short cuts and walk faster. Many times you stand and wait and the bus is full. She is so cute in figuring all this out. I was reminiscing all of those days, the campus, the buildings, bus route ,and how to make things work. She will get it in time.The first week of class, the Cornerstone college SALT ministry had their freshmen BBQ on campus with 1,000 students. That was where Jayden signed up for her dorm connection group. Mid-week they had the big SALT college kick off on campus with a stage and music. Jayden also had her first rodeo team meeting on the same night. She tried to do both, and ran out of time going to the SALT kick off. She had invited her roommate and new friends on her floor. Nobody would join her, so she ended up walking to it, by Hilton, alone and in the dark. I was not thrilled with the idea, but she was determined. She is really good about sending me texts and letting me know what is going on. She was only able to be there for the last two songs and it was over. Back at her room, there was a campus alert of two armed gunman on campus. People were on lock down and some were more panicked than others. Jayden said the sorority girls on her dorm were screaming and hiding in the bathrooms. It turned out to be some kids shooting squirrels with a BB gun. Those kinds of things still cause a mom to worry.
The second week, Jayden learned about an Ag sorrority club. They are different than a typical sorority, they dont have a house, and are more business and Ag oriented. They are a sister house to the AGR fraternity that I was a little sister rhomate in for years. Jayden knew a couple girls from her rodeo team in it and decided to try out. They had to be selected and attend several activities during their bid week. She went to as many activities as she could, line dancing, grill out, and interviews. She met new girls and was feeling pretty good about it. Some of the girls were assuring her that she would get in and was pretty confident she would. It was neat to see her shopping for dressy clothes and getting excited about something. She looked so beautiful and confident all dressed up. She has been longing for the camaraderie of a group to be part of. She liked the idea of a sorority in having lots of girls to hang out with, do hair and make-up, enjoy girly stuff, and always having someone to do stuff with. After the weekend she got an email stating she had not been chosen. I know she was so disappointed, as was I. It was sad, but I reminded her that God has a plan and this wasn't part of it. It may have been too much for her with rodeo, SALT, and Block and Bridle. I always tell her there is a reason for things and it wasn't meant to be. She doesnt like when I tell her that...
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