Char: I Couldn't Even (#laterpost)

Literally the worst. I can't believe I let Al take over this summer. We were both having such crazy adventures, in the two most opposite ways possible. Part of my silence is due to the fact that this summer I've positioned myself to be something of a public figure to about 3,000 students, parents, and family members joining the Penn State community, so I don't want to ruin the magic of NSO for anyone who hadn't experienced it yet. So here's the short:

This summer kicked my butt in the best way ever. I've been working with Penn State Orientation (and let me take this perfect opportunity to remind anyone reading that these views are solely my OWN). I was in charge of 36 student staff members, which, while I'd love to tell everyone all the stories, it's a job. So, the most I will say is that it was definitely an exhausting and rewarding adventure. Things weren't always perfect. But at the end of the day, they survived, and I survived, and we made it. I will say that the thing I'm the most proud of this summer is not trying to make the students' experience my experience, or live vicariously through them. Sometimes it was really hard, but I had so many other things going on, that eventually, it passed.

My other role this summer consisted of being the NSO Host once a week (in a rotation of 5.) I got to stand on stage in front of 500 people once a week and saying, "Welcome to Penn State! You did it! You're here!" The first time I did it, I was Charlotte the TSC Counselor, 100% unleashed. After that I settled in a little, and calmed down a bit.

The night before the last time, i talked to my friend Kyle Pumpkinbear and he said, "Man, I miss getting to talk in front of people from college so much." During that last week, I was trying to wrap my mind around it being the end of the summer (both a sigh of sadness, exhaustion and immense relief). After talking to Kyle, I realized that I would really really miss getting to command the attention of 500 people. What a crazy and unique experience.

This summer was so packed full of experience ans things happening. I'm looking back over my shoulder trying to figure out what just happened to me and because of me and in spite of me.

I think I'm about ready for my long winter's nap.

Around week 6 of 10 this summer, I was offered an opportunity to stay at Penn State with SOTP for an extra month to help coordinate the Welcome Week activities happening all across campus, and I said yes. WHICH MEANS THAT... I'll be moving on to my next adventure on August 31, instead of Sept 30.