I have a few impressions of Ball State from my time in Indiana at Anderson U. Mostly they involve scenes from midnight viewings of Rocky Horror Picture Show - but that is another story. Anyway, speaking from experience: be who you are from the get-go, and explain yourself once or not at all. Play it safe first, and introduce yourself twice. I'm not saying that one is better than the other; it's a choice you'll need to make as you balance your desire to expose your interests against the concern that doing so will set you back. I am certain there will be classmates who will think it's really cool, some who think it's really queer, and others who will do their best to appear as though they don't give a hoot. Look at it this way: you could get to find out who your friends will be really fast!

College is such a cool time. Much of what you learn will not come from the classroom. For many it's a chance to begin expressing yourself for the first time without passing through too many filters that are not yours in the first place, and you get the chance to see yourself as you never have. Your first day probably feels like a big deal, looming up before you like it is. In retrospect, you may not even remember it years from now. But whatever you choose to do, just be true to yourself and honest with others. Focus on doing a good job in your studies and on being a good friend to others, and what you wear on day one will hardly matter in the long run.

Good luck, and enjoy the ride.

Rex.