The first week of the semester is a trying time for everyone involved. It’s that special blend of optimism and chaos where you convince yourself that this will be the semester you have your life together — only to immediately prove yourself wrong in spectacular fashion. From professors who think assigning sections before you’ve even decided if you want to take their classes is reasonable, to exploding bathrooms, FWOC is basically a case study of how everything that could go wrong, will indeed go wrong.

Despite the ups and downs, we’re all just doing our best out here. So grab your backup laptop charger (you’ll need it) and settle in for some of our flops from the FWOC.

1. Finding a rotten banana at the bottom of your backpack

Nothing quite says “I’m ready for a new semester” like reaching into your trusted backpack for a pen and instead discovering that what was once a banana has now reached a new state of matter in your bag. The smell hit our blogger first — and then the realization that their entire backpack was a biohazard.

2. Having sections during the first week

So many classes started having sections the first week of classes, after a single lecture — especially for courses we were merely shopping. For instance — enrolling in a Gen Ed after the second day of classes, only to find out that we already missed the first section.

3. Living by Severance (managing the commute from the Quad to the River)

The newest Quadlings have started to learn how to build their routines around commuting between the Quad and the River. The trek becomes a daily cardio workout, as they master the art of sprinting back and forth between their two homes.

4. Showing up at the wrong building for section; getting caught up in a funeral procession

The classic “I’m in the right place at the right time, but somehow everything is wrong” scenario. Our blogger arrived confidently and on time to their section, only to realize that they were in CGIS instead of Sever Hall. Then, in their sprint across campus, they were caught up in a funeral procession. Maybe section wasn’t worth going to anyway that day…

5. Forgetting to bring everything to class for FDOC

Our blogger had their outfit planned, did their skincare routine, and was ready to start the first day of classes strong. But when the day actually rolled around, they accidentally showed up with literally nothing (no pencil, no paper, no laptop), but good ~vibes~ and hope.

6. Emailing a professor about enrolling in the wrong class

A blogger was just trying to be proactive and responsible by confirming that they were enrolled in the class… but accidentally used the wrong class name in their email. We guess it’s a little too late to back out now.

7. Everything in the bathroom is clogged

Only hours after moving in, a blogger discovered that nothing in their bathroom was functional. Sink: clogged. Toilet: clogged. Shower: somehow also clogged. They’ve become intimately familiar with the work order system, hoping that PRESTO isn’t as backlogged as their toilet.

8. Having to share a bathroom with sophomores

The age-old question: how do people who’ve survived an entire year of college still not understand basic bathroom etiquette? Hair everywhere, mysterious substances in the sink, and ankle-deep puddles on the floor.

9. Accidentally waving to strangers

Nothing is more embarrassing than waving to someone you think you know, only to realize that they were waving to the person behind you.

10. Spilling coffee on your computer…

We’ve found that this is the best way to take these new tech-free policies seriously.

Sometimes the best you can do is show up with nothing but vibes and hope for the best. Consider this your reminder that you are indeed not alone out there <3

Welcome back, everyone — and may your second week be slightly less chaotic than your first.