RRO

Justin completed his orientation at Texas Tech today.  He was there from Sunday morning through Tuesday morning doing various activities, including getting his fall schedule in place and reserving his books, getting counselling on the class schedule and lots of fun activities with some other incoming freshmen.  It seems Tech is doing a far better job of this these days than when I was a student.  They could probably still use some improvement but it’s come a long way.

Among the things Justin will be able to take advantage of is a brand new water complex just outside the Rec Center which was completed in late May 2009.  It has been open for a while for summer students, but the flood of fall students will be it’s first real exposure for the vast majority of Tech students.  It looks pretty neat, and includes a “lazy river” for just kicking back and relaxing.  Justin was pretty pumped that he’d have access to it and the rest of the Rec Center.  There is a picture of the water complex below.

This was also Justin’s first experience staying in a dorm.  He roomed with another incoming freshman for two nights.  Short as it was, it was an eye-opening experience for him.  His roommate apparently came from a quite affluent family (e.g. a $4000 sound system in his car was “normal”, as was spending this summer in Germany).  Good thing it was only a two day stay because I don’t think these two would have gotten along.  Justin plans to stay at home.  I wish he’d stay on campus at least the first semester and immerse himself in the college experience.  College campus in the fall is like nothing else.  But his mind’s made up.  Tech is not much of a commuter campus, and I think those living off campus miss out on some of the things going on, socially and academically, that make college what it is.

During RRO Justin found out there is club baseball at Tech.  He might be interested in that.  Not sure if they only play in the spring.  That might be best so that Justin has a semester to adjust to the rigors of college before deciding if he wants to try out for a club team that would travel to play other college club teams.  Gotta keep up with the studies, and travel, and work.  That’s a load.

Only three more weeks until classes start.  I expect a rude awakening during those first two weeks.  I must brush up on my statistics, because that’s his math class…

Texas Tech's Lazy River and Leisure Pool Complex