Bittersweet

So this coming Thursday marks the kick off for the U's football season and I get to go with my dad! I've been looking forward to the start of a new season basically since the last one ended, but this one feels different.

I will no longer be sitting in the student section, which sort of makes me sad. It's true that I will not have to be standing the whole game on crappy bleachers hardly being able to see. Or that I will most likely hear less "F-bombs" and not have the sun in my face for the whole first quarter. It's true that you should now find me happily sitting in my comfortable seat, pretty much on the 50 yard line, much closer to the field than anything I've seen in the student section, and surrounded by many Crimson Club members. And as all of this sounds so dandy, I still feel a sense of loss. I am no longer a part of the section where it's ok to stand up and yell chants the entire game or come with crazy face/body paint. Not that I was ever one of those "crazy" students anyway, but it definitely leads to a more exciting atmosphere. What this is all coming down to is, I think I actually miss being a student. (Ok, that was a hard sentence to get out)

I've never really liked school, and when I was younger I didn't even want to go to college. When I started at the U as a freshman, I never thought I would feel this way when I graduated. All I could think about was the next class, the next paper, the next test. I just wanted to get through and skip anything else that wasn't required for classes. And I certainly didn't want to be on campus any longer than I had to. But now I feel different.

Matt started school on the 24th and it feels strange not having classes. I almost want to just start showing up to some classes that sound interesting and listen. Obviously I don't want to take any more tests or be graded. It's not that I want to go back to school and complete another major. It's more like I want the chance to just take a bunch of random classes that have nothing to do with anything. I was looking at the fall schedule the other day and it seems there are so many interesting classes offered that I didn't have the chance to take.

I realize all of you who are still in school, Matt included, are probably thinking I'm absolutely crazy and that you would gladly trade places with me. Maybe my attitude will change when I adjust more to no longer being a student. I know, I know, I graduated in May - but I'm a little slow with change at times. I just always felt so proud to say that I was a University of Utah student. Now I guess I need to be just as proud to say I am a U of U alumnus. Because after all, that's technically a bigger accomplishment right? So this Thursday I'll make sure to enjoy the game in a more "mature" section of the stadium with other fellow members of the U alumni.

Who am I, sir
A Utah man am I!
A Utah man, sir
And will be 'til I die!!

We may not live forever on this jolly good old sphere,
But while we do we'll live a life of merriment and cheer.
And when our college days are o'er and night is drawing nigh,
With parting breath we'll sing that song:

A Utah Man am I!