Just Another [Choose Your F-word Adjective] First Year Blogger

Like all my essays, I don’t know how to start this post. I suppose that’s the hardest part of writing. You know what you want to write about, perhaps how to end the whole piece, and definitely the purpose of what you’re writing. But the start always gives me grief. However, I suppose I should start with myself this time.

I am a Bachelor of Arts student, undergoing my second semester. Currently thinking of doing a double major in Sociology and in Media and Communications, but I don’t want to commit to any decisions yet. I am stuck in Melbourne, with our rigid Stage 4 restrictions.

I did not think that I would start my university life in such a way, though I suppose no one did. It’s a first year experience that no other year has likely had before. I was lucky enough to spend exactly two weeks on campus – no, I did not get used to the extensive grounds and find my way around campus. I have, however, become a master of Zoom meetings.

Okay, that’s a lie. I contribute more than I have in the first semester, to my own surprise – I actually engage in discussion (sometimes carrying it) in break out rooms! But I still find myself leaving my camera off, closing myself off from the others to some extent. It’s not some anxiety-ridden purpose, at least not this semester now that I’ve gotten used to things. I leave my camera off (now) because I can’t be bothered putting on makeup or changing out of my pyjamas – a side effect of isolation, I’m afraid.

But I digress, I’m meant to be introducing myself.

I like books. I think that’s really what’s been getting me through this lock down. My intake of fiction hasn’t increased, as I’ve had the habit of reading before I sleep since I was in primary school, but reading has given me the adventures that I cannot have during this lock down. I say ‘adventures’ as if I’ve been reading Lord of the Rings or anything, but really my genre is historical books, or romance, and especially historical books with romance in it.

I like baking. Not as much as reading, though. It isn’t like I bake every week, or even every month. I tend to bake the most around Christmas time as it’s become somewhat of a tradition to make cookies and give them to the children of our church. At first I wanted to help my little brother (still in primary school) believe in Santa Clause by baking cookies, but someone forgot to eat them and drink the milk at night so that fantasy died quickly. I try to change the type of cookie every year – last year I perfected shortbread. Not sure what to do this year.

(They looked something like this, but a little uglier)

I like music, as everyone else does. I tried to teach myself how to play the piano during lock down, hoping that my dad’s talents have passed down to me. I haven’t become a master – to become one, you can only be taught by masters. My dad tried to teach me when I was younger but I was too shy and afraid to mess up. Now he doesn’t have the time but that’s alright – I can play a simple tune at the very least and that’s fine enough for me.

I’m still trying to find new hobbies, not just because of lock down but because I thought that this year (and onward) was the time to try and figure out who I am exactly. VCE has a way of stripping your identity, or at least ascribing one to you in the form of a number. Perhaps hobbies are the way forward.

That’s pretty much all about me – an extensive introduction, I think. I’m starting to feel narcissistic! Truth is, I could probably write forever. If you are ever so unfortunate as to befriend me and engage in a conversation, I’d probably talk forever too.

Now I don’t know how to end this. Goodbye? See you in the next post?

I’ll get better starting these posts and signing off, I swear. But for now, I need to get started on my assessment.