On November 4th, a few students from my local college were given the opportunity to tour the Oregon State University campus. We all met between 5:40am and 6:00am at parking lot one to board our bus, which was nicknamed the "Swagger Wagon". It was freezing cold outside, the air stung a little with each inhale.
When we were all ready to go, blankets, snacks, and all, we took off toward Corvallis. We stopped in one of the towns on the way soon after takeoff so we could fuel up and get coffee. Little did we know, this was going to take us half an hour because the guy running the coffee shop was running on fumes and he was a little slow.
We got to the campus just before 9:00am, ready to go. We tried to park the van in the parking garage, but the direction signs were hanging a little too low for us to get a spot. The driver of said bus ran the new vehicle into a couple of those signs and decided we should park else where. The bus was then parked out to the side of what looked like apartments for the students.
Making our way toward the stadium, we found the other tour groups filing into the doors of an information center with a massive auditorium. This was where we were given folders and information packets before getting the "Beaver Welcome" from some of the staff. The building was crammed full of hopeful students looking forward to their future and the education to come with it. Everyone was curious and excited. The air was practically buzzing with the energy everyone carried with them.
After we were given the welcome, everyone loaded up on Beaver Buses and took off toward their chosen colleges. I rode the bus to the Science College, gaining an acquaintance named Gabe. He and I talked for a few moments on the ride to our destination, learning basics about each other and our interests. When we unloaded, we were met with booths inside of the science building, flowing over with pamphlets, pens, buttons, and lecture schedules. There was a line of tables full of fruit, cheese, and crackers for the guests to munch on before the lectures started.
Gabe and I grabbed some fruit and coffee, weaving in and out of the crowd of knowledge-hungry humans to find a seat beside the stairs. We chatted for a little while and looked over the schedules we were handed before deciding on where we needed to be. Ultimately, I decided to go to the Chemistry lecture in room 161 for the forensics program. When I registered, I had picked Biochemistry.
After seeing the Chemistry lecture, I tagged along to the Health Science speech. This really didn't concern me, as I'm going to be working with the dead. When this was over, the Trio team met up at Bing's for lunch, which was amazing by the way. We then ran off to see some of the buildings and take a guided tour of the campus. I don't think I've ever walked so much in one go in my life. I could feel my right hip dislocating itself, as it usually does when I push myself too hard. This continued until we went home, even with small breaks of seated-rest between walks.
We got to eat at Nearly Normal's and then grabbed donuts from Benny's. We were all full to bursting by the time we loaded the bus for the last time. I got to DJ for the entire trip home, and you know my boy Ed Sheeran was jamming through the speakers more than once.