I’m William Repetto, a second-year graduate student at Villanova University. This is the “‘Cat in the Stacks” column. I’m your ‘cat. I’ll be posting about college life, about learning and growing here at Villanova, and, of course, about the Falvey Memorial Library’s role.

Here we are on a new day, ’Nova Nation. Your favorite Wednesday blog has become your new favorite Thursday blog. How exciting! In celebration, let’s discuss change this week. The topic seems appropriate after all; this time of the year always comes with big changes.

You’re probably settling in this week to new courses, new lodgings, and maybe even a new routine. A little change can be tough; a little change can bring big difficulties, but, most of all, change can be refreshing and open new opportunities.

Hunter’s taken up yoga as her big new school year’s change.

Take for example the changes being made here at the Falvey. The relocation of CASA to the Learning Commons, while it made us shuffle some rooms around, has definitely given the second floor a new and brighter look! It’s also opened up opportunities for us to continue providing resources apropos to our diverse patrons here at the Falvey. (I’ve even heard whispers of a topic guide catered to that end.)

On a personal level, I’m adjusting to a new role here at Villanova as a teaching intern with the English Department. The return to having classes scheduled in the middle of the day, as opposed to exclusively in the evening, has actually been an interesting jump! I’m also adjusting to being a second-year grad student: do I have good advice for my first-year colleagues? What’s next for me – the real world?

I guess change always calls to mind questions like these. New schedules and routines always make me question when I’ll have time for friends and for unwinding. New courses usually make me think: “how in the world am I supposed to get all this done?!” Keeping these questions in the back of my mind, though, usually helps me adjust to the changes in small ways.

My perception of self while I’m writing this blog. (“Because it’s for the birds?” asks Hunter… to which I make the same face as above.)

Of course some of you are thinking that life changes constantly, and adjusting to changes is the same as learning to live. I think that’s partly correct! To me, life functions on different planes, and we’re talking about the long-term plane today. We have to adjust to a new semester and a new day for the blog!

The point is this, Wildcats: while change is wonderful, it can sometimes bog you down. The Falvey staff is here to help you no matter which changes you’re adapting to. This blog particularly will be here each week to help you think about the changes as they come.

Article by William Repetto, a graduate assistant in the Communication and Marketing Dept. at the Falvey Memorial Library. He is currently pursuing an MA in English at Villanova University. (Graphics courtesy of Bitmoji, and Hunter and I spending hours perfecting our representations!)