School is back and it's a joyous scene. We welcomed each other back with open arms and walked into our classrooms together, ready to take on the challenges of the new year, together. That's the typical perspective of a college student, entering another school year: somewhat ready, excited and anxious to see what the year might turn out to be. We go into our classes, listening to our teachers as they break down the workload that deviously rests in our syllabus, meet new people. Especially during the first week, where we as maturing adults take it easy before it gets crazy. We all should know that college is pretty hard, and the first week serves as a resting period that eases our minds into what will be a challenging school year. But what happens to that perspective when things immediately go wrong.

Like I said before, the first week of school is the easy, transition period where students rest. For the most part, the syllabus talk and polite introductions to my desk mates have supported the coziness of the first week. But what happens when you spend over $350 in text books only to add another $30 to that total because you were careless and lost four of them within the first three days? It seems like there's no way you could be dumb enough to do that, it's only the first week!

Yet as I sit here, an education major immersed in the first week with four books short and $380 less short as opposed to being $350 short. They were in the box that I had ordered from the book store, they were with me when I got home: I even stared at the things for a while like the syllabus told me to do. And here I am, writing this article during my break from frantic searching and aggressively vulgar self-commentary. The picture posted neatly above this article is the result of my search. I have to say that this puts quite the mar on my emerging adult status.

Now I'm not saying that this is the end of the world: an extra $30 is not a horribly outrageous amount of money. But as time goes on without those books it becomes much more evident to me about what I can do with $30: my Pick n' Save bag could be much lighter I guess that oil change could wait. Not to mention that syllabus that my teacher was talking to me about is reminding me that I need one of those books, specifically the 50 pages that I have to read which also serve as the topic for class tomorrow. You know what? I really messed up.

As I said before, this is not the end of the world, and I can't freak out like it is. After all, freaking out and throwing a fit is going to do nothing other than distract me from owning up, getting the books that I need. When things go wrong, it's best when you don't freak out. Look what happened when I did; all I got from it was a head ache, a messed up room and a noise complaint. If you're going to be an adult, keep calm, stay focused and most importantly keep pushing on with what you have.