Knox+-+Homework+3

Homework 3 //My Freshmen Year//

As I continued to read Nathan's book, //My Freshmen Year,// she talked about how everyone wants to fit in, get involved, and feel a sense of community. Instantly, I thought that I don't fit into what she is describing. I thought to myself, I didn't join greek life, I never went to events that CA's put together, and I never joined a club. I never worried about being a part of a community. However, shortly into the reading, Nathan's mentioned that "big-time (winning//)// sport teams that draws large attendance and loyalty//"// is an easy bond to share with others and have a "community". That one quote alone really got my attention because I related to it so much. Back to my senior year in high school//,// when I was applying to colleges, all I wanted in the worst way was to go to Penn State University. I wanted to be apart of the PSU football games and Thon and all the different things that the 40,000 students did together as a community. I honestly thought that I was different because I didn't care to get involved and to fit in. That might be true here at Bloomsburg, but a few years ago, I wanted nothing more to be apart of the Penn State atmosphere. I wanted everything about it.

As I continued reading, Nathan's realized that students who do get involved often feel trapped. One student that Nathan's talked to said that she felt like she lost her independence and had to conform to be like her "sisters" in the sorority. I can't not really relate because I am not in a sorority, but I am some what surprised. I thought the reason they join that certain sorority over others was because they got along and felt most comfortable at the one sorority. I guess the word that surprises me is "trapped". I didn't know that it was that intense.

Overall, what I got out of this chapter is no matter what "community" one is apart of, they just surround themselves with people just like them. Never any real diversity or differences. You would think college would be the place where students would want to meet new and different people. But it seems that students don't like leaving their comfort zone and never leave the bubble of people like us.