The LGS family

It's the third day of classes and everyone is realizing that the fun times of summer are officially over.

But it's great to be back.

I had my first LGS class on Monday, and already I know that it's going to be one of my favorites. The curriculum certainly has something to do with it, but a big part of it is the fact that this LGS class is filled with LGS students.

Some of you may be scratching your heads or wrinkling your faces in confusion—after all it seems obvious that only LGS students would be in their program's classes—but I'm sure the LGS students reading this are simply nodding their heads.

LGS is like a giant family for many of us, and this was evident when I was waiting for my first class to begin. As many students walked in, we all greeted them by name with excitement and asked how their summers were. This surprised our professor who remarked that we knew each other "a bit too well" (in a good way, I'm sure). After all, it's one thing for a few people to know one another in a class, but I'm sure it's unusual for the entire class to be as friendly with each other as we were.

How can we not be friendly and excited to see each other though? I'm a junior, as are many of the other LGS students in my class, and many of us have been in small classes together since our freshman year. In that kind of setting, it's inevitable that lasting friendships will form. Not only this, but we work well together, we know what each other is capable of, and I'm sure it's these relationships that allow many LGS scholars to work well with one another outside of class (and start things like initiatives).

We don't goof off. Class time isn't a giant hangout for us. We'll talk and chat with one another before and after class, but during class we're all business. That makes the class enjoyable and intellectually stimulating as well. Everyone there wants to learn and participate.

No matter how much I write here, I can't help but feel I don't do justice to the relationships formed between LGS scholars in our years together. However, I'm sure that no matter where life takes each one of us that we'll all keep in contact and be great friends years and years down the road.

Great bonds form between LGS students, and I already can't wait for my next class with everyone.