Ten things to do on the first two days at UT:

1. Catch the T-link at 10pm just because.  I did this with my best friend and his two suitemates.  We made the loop around campus as the driver explained to us that this was not his usual route. Driver: "I don't know why they put me on this route. I usually drive the Tango." Us: "What's the Tango?" Driver: "You know, the bus that takes you to all the parties!  We're the party bus. Most kids'll call the number and say 'Hey! Send Johnny Rocket over here to pick us up!' And I'll go an' pick 'em up." A bus driver who goes by "Johnny Rocket": can you get much cooler? I don't think so.
2. Have your picture taken with Bruce Pearl.  Bruce Pearl came to the "Parents' Farewell" in Presidential courtyard to give a nice pep talk about how we're going to "kick Martin's ass!" this year and told us to "raise the bar for ourselves."  As his closing statement, Bruce said, "Parents, you don't have to leave. But you do have to get the hell outta' here! Let 'em go!" He signed autographs for a bit and then left for church :) http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=642228861
3. Purchase a step-ladder to get in and out of your lofted bed.  Went to Super Target with mom to pick up drinks (of the non-alcoholic variety-- those are free at the frat parties) and a step-ladder to get into my five and a half foot bed (I know it's pathetic, but I'm really short).  Mom went to grab a "step-ladder" for me and returned with a small two foot folding stool/step-ladder.  Me: "Ummm... I don't think that's going to cut it..." Mom: "Are you sure? I think this will be good." Me: "No, can I get the three footer??" And we did.  I highly recommend it.
4. Listen to Pat Summit sing Rocky Top and Bruce Pearl rap.  At the Night in Neyland, our freshman class participated in cheers with the cheerleaders, both traditional and new, listened to the Pride of the Southland band, listened to UT Volunteer football players encourage us to come out and support them, and listened to Pat Summit sing Rocky Top (quite well, I might add).  Pat invited Bruce to follow her, knowing that he wasn't a good singer.  Bruce: "I can't sing worth a damn!" laughter "But I'll tell you what I can do; I can rap a little bit."  And so he did.  Not bad, Bruce, not bad. Here is the link to the same rap he did for us: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx3cmeLhEcg
5. Get to the Video Dance Party on time for glow sticks.  We were hot and tired from the Light the Torch ceremony, Freshmen Picnic, and Night in Neyland, so we decided to cool off and chill in the room before going to the dance.  We thought we would be "fashionably late."  However, when we arrived around 10:30 they were already out of glow sticks!!! Definitely put a damper on the evening.  But still had fun dancing.  Moral of the story: get places on time to get free cool stuff.
6. Finish summer reading.  Yes, I admit that I was a slacker and did not read any of my book until a few days before the response project was due.  Now, not only must I finish reading the book before our small group discussions on Tuesday, but unfortunately we will be discussing the book in my first english class.  And the creative response will be our first grade.  Yes, the creative response that I wrote in one hour will be my first grade in my first college class.  Good job, Amelia.
7. Cram eight people into your dorm room to eat popcorn and cold pizza. So my roommate, her two best friends, our suite mates, my best friend, and his two suite mates all chilled in my dorm room and ate popcorn and cold pizza while "The Prince and Me" was playing in the background. Not one of us was watching the movie; we were too busy reading "failbooks" and "yahoo answer fails." (My personal favorite is "Wendy." Look it up!) http://www.yahooanswerfail.com/
8. Ride a bike. My best friend brought his orange mountain bike with him to campus. We brought it down from his dorm room on the eleventh floor the first night. Actually, I rode the bike down the hall, onto the elevator, and out of the building, while he held my purse. I'm going to get a bike.
9. Take the elevator. I know taking the stairs is healthier and even faster depending on which floor you live. However, taking the elevator is a great way to meet people . A natural, easy conversation usually stems from asking to go to a specific floor; it's a nice way to talk to people without having those awkwardly forced conversations that you have to have at all the freshmen events
10. Talk to drunk people. My roommate's best friend texted us at midnight and told us that we should come up to her room. "We have very interesting company," she said. So my roommate, best friend, and I went up to visit. There were two drunk guys that my roommate and her friend went to highschool with. They had gone to the ATO party. Guy #1 was on the unlofted bed and Guy #2 was in the lounge chair. #1 was slurring and #2 was very hyper. #1: "I have to pee." Points to the bathroom door. "Is this the bathroom?" Me: "No, that's the door to Narnia." #1, looking confused: "Don't mess with me right now..." He enters and then pokes his head back out and loudly says "Your suitemates are not very attractive, by the way." Yeah, he's a winner.