Dear Doolina,
I have a problem. I’ve been nominated for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and I don’t know what to do. I don’t particularly want to pour a bucket of ice water on my head, nor do I really want to donate to the ALS association. Help?!
Sincerely,
Too Chill for Ice Water
Dear Too Chill,
First off, no one is “too chill” for ice water, not even Ice-T himself. Secondly, what kind of advice-giver would I be if I helped you avoid donating to charity?! What kind of selfish skeleton do you think I am? Dooley?
Anyway, here’s the deal. You can pour ice water on your head, post the video on Facebook and show all your “friends” what a “good” person you are because you dumped water on your head.
If you do that, you should ALSO donate to a charity of your choice (ALS Association being one option, but feel free to donate to others, or more than one!) at a level you can afford. Even one dollar helps, as cheesy as it sounds.
If you really just want to get out of doing anything at all, then just don’t do anything. As self-important as that profile picture that got you 100 likes made you feel, the real truth is that most likely, no one will notice if you’re nominated and don’t partake.
Delightfully,
Doolina
Dear Doolina,
I just started at Emory and have my first few college assignments. I really want to do well on them since I’m pre-med, but I’m finding it really difficult to study in my dorm room. My roommate’s around a lot and he’s always playing his music loudly. Plus, I get distracted and just want to hang out. Where else on campus can I go to study and stay motivated?
Sincerely,
Freaked-Out Freshie
Dear Freaked-Out Freshie,
You have come to the right place. Doolina will share all of Emory’s wondrous secret (and not so secret) study spots with you.
First, there’s Pitts. Pitts is the theology library on campus, and it’s beautiful, quiet and generally pretty empty. It’s also in a prime location for convenience factor. Next, there’s the second floor of Cox Hall, which is a bit louder but has lots of comfy chairs and computers. I’ve never been able to get the comfiest looking lounge area with a computer, so if you do, let me know, and I’ll come steal it from you. Of course, there’s the Woodruff library, which now has Peet’s Coffee & Tea – a giant step up from my old inanimate arch nemesis, Jazzmans. Within the library, there’s the basement if you want a lively-ish study atmosphere. People will be talking down there, and I once witnessed a birthday celebration happening in Jazzman’s, so consider yourself forewarned. If you’re looking for something quieter, try the stacks or the Matheson Reading Room. If none of these options are floating your studious boat, good ol’ Starbucks is always around to boost your motivation with a nice Caramel Frappuccino. You can also always count on them to misspell your name in a way you never imagined possible. And while you’re in the Admissions building (formally known as the “Oxford Road Building,” aka the least creatively titled building ever), stop by Barnes and Noble! There’s a kids section on the bottom level that you’re not allowed to study in – but I won’t tell if you don’t.
If none of these spaces work for you, it’s time to stop evaluating study space choice and start reevaluating your studying!
Delightfully,
Doolina
Dear Doolina,
I’m SO excited to be a freshman at Emory!! I spent all summer perusing the course catalogue, and I had like 25 classes in my enrollment shopping cart when I registered on OPUS for the first time. Here’s my problem though: I might be pre-med or pre-business or a poli-sci major or an Italian major or a history major – I just don’t know. How am I going to decide what I should major in when I’m interested in so many different subjects?! Or worse, what if second semester sophomore year comes around and I still don’t know what I want to study?! Can you give me any advice?
Sincerely,
Anxiously Undecided
Dear Anxiously Undecided,
If you’re using words like “perusing” in a letter to Emory’s resident advice-giver, I dare say you’re in for a fun four years here at good ol’ Emory. I will give you three pieces of advice, two solicited and one unsolicited, in that order:
1) Sign up for any classes that interest you that help you fulfill some General Education Requirements. It’s a good idea to get those out of the way now, and they’re broad so as to give you room to explore many different potential majors. Take a few pre-med and pre-business classes now so you’re not behind later on if you decide that either of those paths are right for you. But also don’t restrict yourself to just pre-med or pre-business; allow yourself to look at lots of different majors!
2) Here’s a little secret: Many second semester seniors, let alone second semester sophomores, don’t know what they want to major in! That’s okay, though, because in the end what you major in matters very little. You can be a philosophy major and become a business analyst, and you can be a BBA student and become a philosopher. There is no one set path.
3) And finally, my (and Bob Marley’s) unsolicited advice: Don’t worry! You have four years here, and you should enjoy every minute of them. Sooner or later you’ll figure out what’s right for you.
Delightfully,
Doolina
Dear Doolina,
I’m a freshman from Los Angeles. I’m loving Emory so far – I still can’t get over how beautiful and green (and humid) Georgia is. Even though the campus and my dorm are gorgeous, there is no way I’m going to want to stay in Raoul hanging out with my orientation friends, hallmates or awesome RA all the time. I was wondering if you could tell me what there is to do in Atlanta? I don’t have a car, and I haven’t met any upperclassmen yet – #freshmanproblems – but I really want to go exploring! Do you have any advice?
Sincerely,
City Girl
Dear City Girl,
Welcome to the boonies! Just kidding, of course – Emory is located within a major metropolitan area. That being said, it is an adjustment from large city living, especially since it’s a lot harder to get around as a freshman without a car. Here are some tips, trademarked by your dear old skeleton friend Doolina, for getting off campus without a car!
First, the Emory shuttles can be pretty handy. The CCTMA shuttle takes you into downtown Decatur, which is a trendy area with some boutiques, restaurants and bars. There are also the Emory Experience shuttles which run most weekends. Those go all over Atlanta – from downtown to Lenox Mall to the Georgia Aquarium! Plan around them for some fun off-campus excursions. Of course, you can always befriend an upperclassman with a car and then mooch off of them. And, if you’re feeling really desperate, there’s always MARTA. Now, people have mixed feelings about MARTA. And when I say mixed, I mean they range from unyielding hatred to mild annoyance. It’s not the greatest transportation system, but it works (except when it doesn’t).
Hop on the 6 bus to Lindbergh Station, and there you can take the rail line to the major areas of Atlanta. Of course, it generally takes a long time to get anywhere on MARTA, but I’m a skeleton so time is no object to me.
Good luck!
Delightfully,
Doolina
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