Wow, that’s so great! I’m really happy to hear you’re doing so well. The trip abroad and the internship sound awesome. Keep me posted, as always!

Losing things? Stop. That’s entirely something you can remedy. Need more supplies? Stop at a drug store or call home and have your parents mail you a “care package”.

Locking out? Leave a note next to the door reminding you to bring your keys.

Not getting up on time? Your Mac is a great alarm clock.

Cornell is a party school? Mike, I hate to break it to you, but every school is a party school. You just need to find your niche and some good friends. Throw your own parties.

Need posters? Order some online and have ‘em shipped to you.

The Antichrist? Well, actually, I’d avoid the Antichrist, too.

Not the smart guy anymore? Leave your pride behind and do what needs to get done. I’ve gone to more tutors and help sessions in the last two weeks than I did throughout my entire high school career and I feel no shame.

Hopefully you can turn things around.

Life at Amherst is amazing. I’m really enjoying all my classes. I’m excited to be taking French again, and I’m beginning to make plans to study abroad next year. I’m thinking about a public service internship in DC over winter break. I’m getting out more and meeting new people. I’m rooming with one of my best friends in one of the nicest dorms on campus and I’m having tons of fun and everything is basically amazing.

-I’m losing things and am low on supplies that I often took for granted at home.
-I’ve been locked out of my room/dorm MANY times.
-Lots of work. Period.
-Getting up on time on my own is quite difficult. Though I’ve done plenty to assist others in making 9AM classes, no one seems to return my favors.
-Cornell is a party school. I don’t know what the world is coming to. I was hoping to come to a brain-trust-like setting, with nerds and professors Segwaying around and talking about intellectual issues. Instead, it’s high school all over again.
-I am making all the same social mistakes I made in HS; using homework as an excuse to hang out with girls, being a social vampire, and making friends with the CUDems, DGA, and CJAS (nerd groups) rather than than with socialistas.
-My room is heavily under-decorated. I bought more political books and graphic novels to fill shelves, but my room is lacking in terms of posters.
-My roommate is as introverted and socially inept as I.
-My First-year Writing Seminar teacher may actually be the Antichrist, which is awesome considering the class is called “The Antichrist.” I’m dropping the class.
-It rains too much.
-I have to walk an uphill mile in 15 minutes twice a week to make my favourite class.
-TLA,MC,&DF has made me realize that I’m no longer the “math” guy or the “smart” guy.

Good Things-
-I’m the FUNNY guy.
-The teachers that HAVE Doctorates are GOOD at both teaching and their fields.
-2 Liters of Pepsi Max.