Another Awkward Avent

It’s the end of another school semester, the school’s a ghost town, and us students are looking three weeks ahead, into May, where the flowers will bloom, leaves unravel, and the beginning of what should be a memorable summer.

Fuck that (excuse the strong language), I thought when I came down the hallway into the main street of the school, and saw nothing but white through the windows. Calgary is the only place on earth that the morning is beatiful, brunch its raining, afternoon it’s a blizzard, and the streets are flooded by the evening. I don’t see June and July coming anytime soon, let alone May, and I fully expect that by the years end us Calgarians will be burried in snow.

Today (it’ll be yesterday by the time this is posted) the Department of English hosted a humble party to celebrate the end of te semester, and the first batch of honors students who are graduating this year. I, to break out of my anti-social shell, decided to attend. All I can say is it turned out exactly like the STOPGap magazine release.

Walking into a room where you know no one, and it isn’t a club, is awkward. Its like stripping down to your underwear and socks, the jumping int a mountain of snow. It’s especially gruesome for someone like me who will take the please and stand by the garbage can to make it look like I’m not talking to anyone for the reason the garbage stinks.

(Is it strange that I am listening to the Dark Knight soundtrack as I edit this?)

I shifted my weight from leg to the next. Looked outside a couple times (don’t know why). Cracked my fingers, knuckles. Took a swig of sprite, which was spiked with awkward. And there was food, lots of it. Fruit, pastries, bread, cheese, expensive cheese, gross cheese, sausage rolls (yum), wine and beer — man these guys know how to eat. I went to a science hosted event once, and they served thin crust pizza.

I managed to meet a couple professors, and say hi to ones I knew this year. I think it is really important as a student to get involved with your department, especially if you are looking to pursue post secondary beyond an undergraduate degree. I’ve heard and read that you need to network, participate in your department to pursue master degree programs. They don’t accept students solely based on how pristine their GPA is. I’m keeping this in mind.

I left the party after the final toast. I think my awkwardness makes my presence know. Someone standing nervously by themselves defiantly is gonna get noticed, I notice people like that. But how do you approach an awkward person? And how does an awkward person approach people who all know each other, and are engaged in conversation? I don’t know. If someone knows tell me.