The Feelings Of Thousands

Have you ever been able to feel the emotion of an entire crowd? I have. Nothing can compare to the feelings of raw pain I have experienced with my peers these past few days. I don’t think anyone who doesn’t live here can truly understand this loss. It started Sunday evening at the candle light vigil for Joe Paterno. We stood in the snow outside Old Main. We listened to those who love him speak about the great things he did for our university. Then all was silent and the Blue Band began to play “Amazing Grace”. It was a moment I will never forget. I’ve included a few powerful photographs. I happened to be standing in a media hot spot (completely not intentional) and I ended up in a few newspapers. I’m sharing them with you because I feel that they can more accurately portray how we felt. I’m not embarrassed to post a photo of myself crying, because a picture is worth one thousand words. And no matter how many words you gave me I could not describe the emotion seen in these images.

Today I again experienced a period of time where I knew everyone around me was feeling the same thing. Joe’s funeral procession drove through campus at 4 pm this afternoon. My instructor for my EMT class let us stand outside and watch. Everyone was talking and laughing while we waited, but as soon as the motorcade began to pass by it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It was almost as if we were in a state of shock. When his hearse passed we knew it was really. We would never see or hear from Joe Paterno again. Some of you may think that writing about him twice is overkill, but I don’t agree with you. He was one the most important person to ever touch the university I call home. He deserves more then this. I only wish I could do him justice.

Life In A College Lecture Hall

I’m in physics class right now. I should probably pay attention since this is my worst class, but I really can’t concentrate. Clearly the remedy to this issue is to blog. I’m going to tell you what I see so you can get an idea of what it’s like to sit in a lecture at my school.

1. This lecture hall is huge and old. There’s probably 300 people in here.

2. Only three quarters of these college kids are actually paying attention

3. The girl sitting in front of me was in my lab group last semester. You always see someone you know.

4. My professor is fat, wears glasses and is nerdy looking. Can we get anymore stereotypically physics?

5. He also can’t draw anything. That fish looks like a blob.

6. Someone just rolled in late. They have to sit on the stairs.

7. The person behind me is probably reading this.

8. These desks don’t allow for personal space. This girl needs to get her arm away from my notebook.

9. Everyone around me was talking about Joe Paterno before class started. Some of them still are.

10. The fire extinguisher looks about 500 years old. Hopefully nothing ever gets set on fire.

11. This room looks like it was probably decorated by my physics professor

12. Why does 50 minutes feel like 2 hours?

13. After this I have EMT lecture. That class makes 2 hours feel like 50 minutes.

14. It’s 1:50. Halfway done!

15. There’s some frat boys 3 rows in front of me. They look thoroughly confused. I’m proud of them for showing up.

16. If you lose something in here make sure you call Randy Penn. Whoever that is…

17. Words cannot describe how boring this is

18. He just turned the lights out for a demo. Nap time.

19. There’s a girl with a bright orange hoodie. I’m jealous.

20. I have retained nothing on lenses.

Okay, I’m done. I promise not all of my classes suck this much. I do usually pay attention which is why I’ve never done this before an probably won’t do it again for a whole. It’s just an exceptionally boring day in the life of a bio major. I hope you enjoyed. I’ll write a real post later tonight.