Extra Credit

Glenn Jodun
August 29, 2011

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Read More: School, Virginia Commonwealth University

At long last the summer is finally drawing to a close which may be a bit of a downer for some and for others, the beginning of yet another exciting season. As I moved back to campus, I thought of all that is yet to come as the season changes – school, the reuniting of friends and the miscellaneous events on or off campus.

I might be a bit of a school geek for the reason that I actually do look forward to classes. But suffice to say, college is at the top of my list of great expectations for fall 2011. I have a course load weighing in at a whopping eighteen credit hours. This busy class schedule includes: three photography studios, a writing intensive journalism class, one four hour art history lecture, and a four hour photography lecture of which I’ll be TA-ing over. I really hope that I’ll be able to exhibit some sort of grace under pressure or at the very least, I’ll find a release through art and writing.

At the end of every school year, it seems that most students (my friends specifically) go abroad or to their respective homes across Virginia, leaving me to a dull and drawn out summer. Now don’t get me wrong, my family is great and I love them to pieces but the summer ending reunites me with my closest friends. These close friends are sort of extended family if you will. Any inhibitions I might have at home with flesh and blood are quickly traded for spontaneity, adventure, nightly dinners, and intelligent -and sometimes not so intelligent- conversations.

Finally though, I come back to the many events here in the city. Already -and in no particular order- I’m looking forward to VCU’s Annual Drag Ball in November and my first Virginia PrideFest on September 24. There is also the RVA Music Fest  and anything that strikes my fancy that Strange Matter might have going on.

With the exception of this month -due to cancellation for Labor Day- I love the First Friday Artwalk on Broad Street. I also forgot to mention the First Friday Artwalks held every month. VCU hosts a variety show called “No Shame,” which is held every other Friday night at the Shafer Street Playhouse. And, of course, I have plans to hit up Godfrey’s for College Hump Night several times throughout this busy semester of mine!

Before I forget, I do have a few minor things I’m looking forward too: my first paid photography gig and having a first “significant other”. I guess most of those aren’t that minor but in any case, I look forward to them all the same. In summary, with school starting, friends coming back, Richmond’s variable entertainment scene and everything else that’s in store, life is certainly about to get far more interesting for myself and for a great deal of people.

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Glenn Jodun is a current undergrad student at VCU, studying Photography and Film with a minor in Journalism. He is looking to further explore the culture, history, and community in Richmond.