Laura's Thoughts

I have about a month until I begin my last semester of undergraduate study. I'm having so much fun this summer, I don't want to go back to class. But I want the semester to start so I can hurry up and graduate. I'm having a blast and meeting so many people this summer, I wondered why I hadn't been having this much fun before. Then I decided that school gets in the way. I love just working during the day, coming home, and doing whatever I want - no homework. I can't wait for it to be like that all the time. I love going out on the weekends and meeting all kinds of people. It's really made me a much more open-minded person.

Living on campus was fun and super-convenient, but I never really hung out with anyone outside of TCU. Living on Bryant Irvin this summer has been wonderful. I lived in Fort Worth last summer, but no one else was really around with whom to do things. Now that people are here, we're going downtown, going to Arlington, going to Dallas, meeting the neighbors. And I've met so many different kinds of people. I'm learning more about people in general. I've always considered myself fairly perceptive and good judge of people, but now I'm getting to really know kinds of people I've never really known before - both good and not so good.

Our new neighbors moved in last week. They're from Kansas City! Go figure. It's a family of four, soon to be five. I've only talked to them a couple times, so I'm not sure what they do or why they moved from Kansas City, but they're really nice. I think John, the husband, works in the medical field because he was outside in scrubs the other day. Tonya said she grew up in Plano, so she's from around here, but John's never lived in Texas. They have two little kids, and they look like a handful - nice enough, but rambunctious. So it's nice to have friendly neighbors.

I've been thinking more about work and where I'm headed and what I want to do. I need to start talking to some people higher up about where I want to be when I graduate. I really want to get involved in the cost accounting area and managerial stuff. I know I probably won't be able to start in a managerial position as soon as I graduate, but I need to find out how to get my foot further in the door. I think it would be smart to stay at XTO right after I graduate. They have great benefits and they'd pay for most of my Masters if I decide I want to do that. And it's a great, stable company. So unless something else really jumps out at me, that's probably where I'll be. So exciting! I'm so ready. Bring it on.