Corinne Blaise

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

8:20 a.m.

The shrill chime of my phone’s alarm fills the room. Hit “snooze” and close my eyes. Repeat this pattern for the five other alarms I’ve set. Hopefully my next-door neighbor, Audrey, already left for class, otherwise she might wake me up with a bucket of cold water.

8:35 a.m.

Get up and get ready after spending five minutes yelling at myself for watching that extra episode of “Narcos” before bed. Still groggy.

8:44 a.m.

Change and put on the outfit I set out yesterday. It’s only the first week of school — I can’t already start dressing like I don’t care.

8:53 a.m.

Speed-walk to the music building for jazz band. My instructor, Mr. Rabb, enjoys my jokes but not my tardiness. Sit in the trumpet section (the best section) with my senior buddy Nur Almajali ’23! #shoutout

9:51 a.m.

Nur and I arrive at assembly just as it’s starting. Assembly Hall is full, so we awkwardly stand on the side until we spot some seats. Squeeze into a row packed so tightly that every time I move, I accidentally elbow the girl to my right. Sorry!

9:55 a.m.

Settle in and listen to Deans Weatherspoon and Cahalane go over helpful back-to-school do’s and don’ts. At one point Dean Weatherspoon breaks into song. He does this too often for me to be shocked every time.

10:16 a.m.

Suddenly ravenous. I need to get to Grill ASAP. Beating the post-assembly rush will be crucial. Put my backpack on my lap and eye the closest door so my exit can be smooth.

10:25 a.m.

Assembly dismissed. Luckily McConnell Hall was not among the dorms called for attendance. That’s fully my doing; I crossed my fingers and sent Dean Weatherspoon some brain signals. Make a beeline to Grill. Nearly wipe out on the Academy Building stairs.

10:30 a.m.

My order: tater tots and a strawberry and banana smoothie. 10/10; if you haven’t tried it, you haven’t lived.

10:45 a.m.

Craving satisfied, I’m off to Spanish class with Señor Ardura! I spent a month in Spain this past summer for study abroad, so I’m waiting to wake up and suddenly be fluent. Should be any day now. 

11:30 a.m.

English. Long block. Try to stay focused. The book of poems we are reading, Floaters, is interesting, but I want lunch.

12:42 p.m.

Find my friends in a crowded Elm Street Dining Hall. Jokes are passed around the cramped table. Set to work making a sandwich, patrolling the toaster so nobody steals my bread.

1:25 p.m.

Head back to McConnell to get ready for Yoga as Meditation! Thank you Mrs. Nydick for teaching the most relaxing class on campus.

1:40 p.m.

Yoga. Tell myself I won’t fall asleep during our stationary practice, but always do.

2:55 p.m.

Speed-walk across campus to get to Phelps Science Center for physics. I’m realizing I need to start properly estimating how far away the buildings are. Climb the stairs to the third floor, ascending the length of the whale skeleton and slip into Room 310. It’s early in the term, but I have no idea what I’m doing so far.

3:52 p.m.

Time to check my email. When did I get old enough that checking and responding to my emails takes a half-hour? And why do I have so many emails?

4:30 p.m.

U.S. history! I won’t say anything about it — I’ll let you reminisce about your experience.

5:15 p.m.

Back at the dorm. I have homework to do but first, some mindless scrolling through social media.

5:50 p.m.

Start my homework (read that in a spooky tone). Luckily tomorrow is a half day —I only have two classes. I should do some homework for Thursday, but who has time for that?

6:35 p.m.

Back to Elm for dinner, praying they have roasted garlic vegetables.

6:38 p.m.

No luck on the roasted garlic vegetables. But they do have soft serve, yay!

6:40 p.m.

Eat and laugh with my friends again! A lot of them are coming back from sports, so they are a little wiped out. But that’s OK, everyone is feeling drained by this time. How do we have so much homework in the beginning of the school year?

7:30 p.m.

Remember that I have a piano lesson tomorrow. I should get some practice in before then. Unsuccessfully try to recruit some friends to come with me.

7:40 p.m.

Haven’t practiced all summer and that is obvious. Maybe it’s best that I’m here alone.

8:00 p.m.

Freak out, realizing I’m going to be late to Student Council! Never mind! We haven’t started yet so my Tuesday nights remain free.

8:05 p.m.

Head back to the dorm and sit in the common room to do some homework so I can feel like I’m really using that extra hour well.

8:40 p.m.

Realize I spend more time talking with Allison and Jane than working. Time to go to my room.

9:00 p.m.

Check-in with Ms. Stallings! She’s new to the dorm but she’s been seeing a lot of me for physics help. Thank you, my physics angel!

9:40 p.m.

Learn that I passed our Tidy Tuesday check! My clothes weren’t strewn across the floor so it was a done deal.

9:50 p.m.

Watch The Truman Show, a movie recommended by my adviser, Mr. Matsumaru. I’ll share my rating with him tomorrow. I have a feeling he won’t agree.

12:00 a.m.

Have some late-night cookies while watching cooking videos.

12:35 a.m.

Goodnight! (My Wednesday schedule looks like a breeze — otherwise I would NOT be going to sleep so early.)

 

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the fall 2022 issue of The Exeter Bulletin.