My mom always used to say “once you fail, you can only go up from there.” Being a freshman on campus this year, I have had my fair share of stupid moments and failures. With the end of our terrifying first semester approaching, it’s about time to look back at all the instances we’ve thought, did I really just do that?
My stupidity began the first day I found myself alone on a campus of over 40,000 people. I figured it was important to do “normal” things and become a “normal” student on a “normal” campus, so I ventured to the Walgreens on East Campus Mall to pick up a prescription. Next to the entrance of Walgreens and under the sign, there is a door which leads to an elevator and staircase. I assumed that one of these modes of transportation would take me to the pharmacy so I choose the stairs… and ended up in Sun Tan City. Feeling stupid, I grabbed the elevator and pressed one… only to watch the doors part ways and a parking garage displayed before me. Needless to say, I left without actually getting my medication (thank God for mommy and FedEx).
My roommate and I love to decorate. Upon moving into our humble Ogg room, we bought way too many photos, wall decorations and white boards to dawn our bland walls. While Command Strips may boast “damage-free hanging solutions to any project”, my roomie and I found out that this statement doesn’t always ring true after countless wall decorations tumbled to their death at two am, leaving ripped wall paint and a few holes. Now we have $3 vintage posters taped on our walls (and holes)… as well as an abundance of Christmas decorations!
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, do not fall out of your lofted bed. Yes, this is an event that can occur when sober and yes, it did happen to me. Groggily climbing down a bed ladder at 12:30 for a bathroom run, wasn’t my smartest idea. Consequently, I found myself at UW Health under an X-ray machine thinking, did that really just happen. After three weeks of a bruised and swollen foot, I eventually came to the conclusion that yes that had really happened.
Realizing that everyone had failures as a baby Badger is a process of initiation into this beautiful campus we now call home. The more we “fail”, the more we learn. Maybe it’s time we exchange our freshman mindset for a fresh, and more positive one. Embrace every silly thing you do from now until May 2014 and realize that each one puts you a step closer to being able to think, yes, I did really just watch you do that.