by Mandi Kuhn -

I am an old woman.

All right, I’m not decrepit by any stretch of the imagination. It just feels like that at times. As a thirty-year-old college freshman, coming back to term papers and was more of a drastic change than I expected. I think I deserve a little dramatic flare.

It has been twelve years since I’ve written a report, sat in a lecture hall, or freaked out by approaching due dates or pop quizzes. Keeping track of writing formats such as MLA, APA, and AP, it sometimes seems like I’m adjusting to college about as well as a hen would to water, but I’m trying.

The professors here are surprisingly accommodating to my brain’s perverse lack of know how. When I realized that my collegiate knowledge could fill the wedge of teaspoon, it sent me racing to learn instead of spiraling into a panic. And that was just week one!

Now that I’ve settled into my comfortable routine with hours of reading, studying, and writing copious notes, there are several things I’m thankful exist:

The iPhone-

• It wakes me up.
• Reminds me to turn assignments in.
• Keeps my class schedule and gives a sense of organization that I failed to learn in high school.

Free Apps- The “My Homework” app gives me the option of updating my assignments online or in my phone. All changes sync to each other. This is useful if you’re constantly misplacing your phone.

Coffee/Tea- You know you have an addiction when people start calling you the “Coffee Cup Girl”.  I carry around two thermal mugs at all times. To me such a nickname is a welcomed compliment.

 My Bible- This isn’t just a book used to pass your Bible courses. It’s a book that’s meant to guide you, fill you up, and encourage you during dark and stressful times. I encourage everyone to spend fifteen minutes with Jesus. Take a walk, play worship music, or read a Psalm and you might see the difference in focus when it comes to school work.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve come to acknowledge how precious my time is and it’s laced with responsibilities, but I’m just grateful that young or old, we’re all in the same boat here.