Editor’s note: This is a continuation of a story following four freshman girls starting their college careers at Central Michigan University. To see the original, check the Sept. 26 edition of CM Life or go to cm-life.com’s version of this story.

The optimism the girls shared before beginning their first year of college seems to be well-founded so far for the freshman girls of Wheeler Hall Room 102.

“It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, I have a lot of spare time to do homework,” said Kaylee Boos of Shelby. “My astronomy class is probably the hardest for me, just because science is hard for me to comprehend.”

Carla Raymond of Coldwater said she had to switch into a few more University Program and prerequisite classes, after being overwhelmed by the upper-level business classes she had initially enrolled in.

“I switched to do my basics this year, and my business classes next year,” Raymond said.

Shelby Miller of Union City may have the biggest non-class commitment of the four girls, as a member of the marching band’s color guard, but she said the afternoon practices have not gotten in the way of her studies.

“All my classes are really early in the morning, and then I have three or four hours to start or finish my homework,” Miller said.

She said she has enjoyed her time in the color guard so far, and performing in front of approximately 76,000 people during the football game at Michigan State University has been an early highlight.

“The State game was amazing,” Miller said. “Extra-nerve-racking, but exciting at the same time.”

Amanda Green of Shelby said classes have not been difficult so far, although she has already slept through a class.

Green said she is reconsidering what to do with her free time, after she tried out for the Club Soccer team and was cut.

“I didn’t want to play on an intramural team, so I’m just going to find a job or something, I don’t know,” she said.

The girls all said so far, living together in one bedroom has not caused too many problems, although Boos chided Raymond for being the “slob” of the room.

“I am not!” Raymond quickly yelled back.

Boos said the only real problem the girls have encountered so far is coordinating each other’s recreation to not interrupt one another’s academics.

“Probably the hardest time is when one of us wants people over and someone’s trying to study,” Boos said. “We’re all studying at different times, so it’s hard to pick a time.”

The girls said they are, for the most part, enjoying living away from their families, although they have all been in contact, and have visited. Raymond said her mother and brother visited her Monday for her 19th birthday.
Boos admits that she is probably having the hardest time with the separation.

“I’ve been home every weekend so far. I talk to my dad every day, and I talk to my sisters almost every day, and I talk to my friends (back home) every day,” Boos said.

E-mail the author: Brad Canze