The One Where Ania Gets Reminisce-y About College

I’m done with my first year of college! I can’t believe it… I’m officially ridiculously old. It’s be tons of fun, all this college stuff, but I’m ready to head back to South Carolina. The only thing is, I have to stay in NYC until Thursday because I’m going to be an RA next year and I have the joy of sweeps, which means I get to go inspect rooms. Fun stuff.

Anyway, I read about Michelle’s first day of college and it made me think about mine. I have no idea what I wore that day but I was in a car for a long time so it’s safe to say I wasn’t looking all that hot. I was so nervous before I showed up here. I mean really, I’m this girl from the middle of nowhere, South Carolina. People wore Piggly Wiggly t-shirts at my high school. We had forks drawn on walls (okay sure, they were supposed to be tridents but the people who drew them sucked at art). It’s a delightful mix of redneck and ghetto. So you can see how I belonged in NYC.

I’ve been a lucky girl though. I’ve spent most of my summers in Poland and a couple of months in France so I wasn’t stuck in my town. But none of that prepared me for the sheer awesomeness of living in New York City.

The people I’ve met here have been fantastic.

This is Michelle. She made that bag. She also has a fantastic blog.

We’re the co-owners of the MoMA.

It’s pretty hush-hush but we’ll be putting a pool in there sometime soon.

Y and I had a birthday extravaganza weekend for our 18th and 19th (respectively) birthdays.

This is Zoe. She was my roommate. We normally don’t look so serious.

We usually look like this.

This is Rina, she also blogs.

Rina, Zoe, and I went on an adventure to Brooklyn and met Rufus Humphrey from Gossip Girl.

We were cold so we bought Santa hats.

They let me pretend that I’m Blair Waldorf.

And caught snowflakes with me.

We also made a shirt for Daniel Radcliffe.

And drew stick people so he’d know who was who.

I gave it to him, only because I was the last person they let get in the little box-cage-thing. Y pulled me to the front and kept me from getting trampled.

I wasn’t going to do it. I felt too shy and creepy. But then I thought about how I’d feel like a total wimp if I didn’t get brave and give him the shirt.

So I did.

He carried it in to the car and everyone was really happy. We went to Junior’s, a fabulous cheesecake place, and began a new tradition that lasted the whole year.

We made our last Junior’s run on Friday and said goodbye to our favorite waiter.

We also sneak pictures in the theaters we go to. We’re not supposed to… but we did anyway.

This was at Equus.

This was at the Little Mermaid.

I had a lot of fun with these girls and others not pictured. They’re some fabulous people and I’m pretty sure they’re going to be ridiculously famous one day. Seriously. Michelle is going to have a killer accessories line. Trust me. Or don’t. Just scroll up and look at that bag she made. You’ll see.

I love these girls and I’m going to miss them this summer. But guess what! We’ll all be back in the fall!

Just like Gossip Girl.

You know you love me.

xoxo

PS.

by Rina

1. Fashion school is glamorous. Students come to class in four-inch heels, dresses, and designer bags, and it’s normal. Sweatshirts/pants are pretty much unacceptable, unless they are college gear, or it is during finals week. Also, we don’t wear pants. It’s just not something the fashionistas in my school like to do. I somehow survived the winter in leggings. (God bless wool!)

2. Fashion may be glamorous, but it isn’t always easy. For those of you who think fashion is Gucci, Prada, and Dolce&Gabbana, you’re right. For those of you who think that is all fashion is, you’re wrong. Fashion is business. Fashion is industry terms, textile composition, retail math, merchandising policies. It is formulas, organizational charts, and six-month plans. The behind-the-scenes stuff isn’t as glamorous.

3. The city is awesome. But traveling to and from it is a tough commute. My train ride is exactly 37 minutes if the Q runs without problems, and a 12 minute walk to school. Add in the time it takes to get to the train and grab breakfast, an hour and about 10 minutes is needed. Add a bag full of textbooks, and it isn’t always easy. My commute results in me falling asleep on the train constantly, and running the 7 blocks to class. (So much for four inch stilettos…) I would like to take this time to personally thank my Ipod, because without it, my commute would be silent and lonely.

4. Friends are good. Make sure to make some. I didn’t meet a lot of people this year, I won’t lie. Most of my closest friends came from the honors scholars program I am enrolled in. I met them in the beginning of the year, and stuck with them through the year. Hopefully, we will continue sticking for the remaining three years. College is that much more fun when you have your girls to share it with.

5. When in doubt, skip class, and go to Pinkberry.

6. Even when you’re not skipping class, go to Pinkberry. Your problems will be gone with just one spoonful.

7. Broadway shows are amazing, especially ones with naked ex-wizards.

8. Take a risk. Give the naked ex-wizard your number.

9. Fashion Week is a holy holiday. Observe it in style.

10. They don’t card at Fashion Week. Choose your alcoholic drinks wisely.

11. Beware of bitches. Everyone at school looks pretty on the outside. Reality: they aren’t all pretty on the inside.

12. Boredom is treated by baking. Cookies, watermelon cakes, a thousand cupcakes. Just do it.

13. When taking a cab to the MET to do a project, and having only fifteen minutes to research it, do yourself a favor, and make sure it’s the right painting.

14. It is possible for teachers to be hot. However, it isn’t a high possibility that they are straight.

15. Speaking of “straight,” the word is foreign to us fashion students.

16. Parks are great. Whether it is Central, Washington Square, Madison Square, or Union Square, pick one. And have a picnic.

17. Fashion designers are sweet. And they will take a picture of you if you ask nicely. I asked Tommy nicely.

18. Stores are no longer for shopping. There are for merchandise analysis reports and textile projects.

19. It is amazing being a true New Yorker around a bunch of people who think they are true New Yorkers just because they’ve dormed here for 9 months.

20. Life is short. College is shorter. Savor every moment, and make it

COUNT!