Class Registration in 30 Minutes!

There are thirty minutes until junior class registration for Spring 2009 classes, so the mood among third year students is pretty tense.  Luckily, I’m stationed in the Admissions Office waiting for Banner (our online registration service) to open- and not in the library or a computer lab where 1300 other juniors sit with their fingers poised to log in.  This is definitely contributing to how calm I’m feeling about getting the classes I want for next semester.

Having come in with credits from AP classes and dual enrollment, I’m in a unique situation.  By the end of next semester, I will have finished my major, my general education requirements, and 2/3 of a second major- if all goes well with registration.  I’m primarily a government major, and I’m really excited to take Professor Brendese’s Memory, Democracy, and Theology senior seminar, especially after having him for political philosophy my freshman year.  The nerd in me is psyched to combine my Monroe research from this summer (comparing faith-based  and secular service initiatives) with my seminar paper to form the basis for the Honors Thesis I’ll write next year.  I”ll also be registering for classes in international relations, Russian language, Middle Eastern history, and geology.

All of this is in preparation for senior year- where the goal is to enjoy myself and take as many fun and different courses as possible.  Seniors rave about Adventure Games and Beginning Acting, among many others.  While writing my thesis, I hope to lighten the load a little academically and to pick up electives that I’ve been forced to delay taking to complete my majors- Arabic, Spanish, creative writing, film studies.

It’s easy to feel that classes really get in the way of the “college” life, but it’s been my experience that students at William and Mary balance academics and extracurriculars and also integrate their intellectual life into their social life.  Yes, it’s stressful, but the potential for student growth is extraordinary.

And each semester is better than the last.  Go Tribe and Hark Upon the Gale.

Bailey Thomson (2010)