Classes already started, but some of you probably weren't ready. Whether it’s moving in, shopping, finish registering for your classes, or buying books, somehow you are just not starting things on the right foot. I’ve been going to UCF for a while now, but I have never really noticed how unorganized people can be before the semester begins. I was helping my sorority little move in and she just wasn’t ready...at all. It will probably take her a few weeks to actually get things set up right. I met a new friend and she was telling me how she’s temporarily homeless sleeping on friends couches until she can move into her own apartment. I realized then that regardless how long you’ve been going to UCF, everyone has their hiccups at the beginning of the fall semester. Below are a few of the headaches that some of us have to go through each year. 

Parking/Traffic:
Driving to campus can be agitating depending how bad the traffic is when you come to school. You know how long it will take you to get to campus, but you forget that K-12 schools starts the same week UCF does and it takes you longer than you anticipated. If that wasn’t bad enough, it hits you that finding parking is a Knightmare! It took me 20 minutes to find a parking spot the first day. One of the worst feeling when looking for parking is getting excited for no reason when you find out there’s a smart car in the spot. The other bad feeling to have is finding that green envelope on your windshield because you either didn’t pay attention where you were parking or simply because you were trying to skim on by until you had the money to get a parking decal. I think, by far, parking is one of the worst experience about going to UCF. 

Finding Classes:
If you ever had class in either business or classroom building one or two, then you would understand how easy it is to go into the wrong room. Imagine however that you don’t remember what the building or classroom number. You’re already late to class and your phone seems to take forever to pull up the class schedule. Of course, this is expected during the first week of school since everyone is not really in sync with their new class schedule. However, you can tell who’s new just by watching people stand at the campus map trying to figure this jungle out. If I ever had time though, I would stop to help point them in the right direction.    

The biggest knights at the local bars are Saturday and Sunday Knights. Before it hits 10 o’clock, it’s already packed at Knight’s Library and Knight’s Pub. Unless you don’t have class in the morning, why wouldn’t you go out to catch up with old friends that you haven’t seen since last semester? Besides, it’s probably nice to go out and start the semester right especially If you were home all summer and didn’t really do anything fun.  

It’s the first day of school, but you’re not fully moved in yet or there’s something not right with your new place. Things can seem a little crazy or annoying because you’re just trying to settle down and get this semester started, but you run into problems with your apartment. For example, the A/C not working, having no hot water, or broken furniture. After you complain to management, hopefully things will get straightened out soon.  

Going shopping the first few days before school start is like getting ready for hurricane before it hits. If you snooze you lose. Items can go out of stock rather quickly if you waited too long. Well, it is obvious that this will happen when you have thousands of students hitting up the stores to get the same mini-fridge, microwave, etc.

Hopefully things will settle down and everyone will be able to get back into the groove. Regardless how things started for you, don’t let it mess up your whole semester. Trust me, I have had my share of bad first days; but hey, it’s 2014, and I’m ready to go hard for my last fall semester at UCF. If you know me, I don’t turn down for anything.