I don't think I am alone when I say that the person I was before college would not recognize or get along with the person I am now. College is often thought of as an opportunity to reinvent yourself or to have a start fresh. But in actuality, it's a time to build upon who you already are and work out some of the kinks along the way. I've experienced more personal growth and learned more about myself in my three years in college than I have my entire life.
1. My need for personal space
My first semester at the College made me regret taking for granted having my own room. (It had a door and a lock and everything. Paradise.) Overcrowding had led to three of us being sardined into a room barely livable for two. Being a class-A introvert, the experience helped me learn the importance of having my own space. Spending extended periods of time with people leaves me emotionally drained and in need of a space of my own. A private room was at the top of my priorities when looking for an apartment for spohomore year.
2. I can put myself out there
I would like to think that my high school friends and I were destined to be BFFs, but I think our friendships are as much based on proximity as they are on compatibility. College is different because you must put yourself out there and make an effort to gain friends. I started forcing myself to introduce myself to at least one person in each of my classes. Just by simply putting myself out there, I gained friends that I am close with to this day.
3. I cannot cook
I blame my mother for this one. All those years she spent slaving away in the kitchen and never making me lift a finger - what was she thinking?
4. I am a clean freak after all
Growing up, I was always the messy one in the family. My sister is a full-on OCD clean freak. The respective sides of the counter in our shared bathroom were like night and day. But having extremely messy housemates awakened the clean freak in me and I don’t think she’s ever going away. I now clean when I am stressed out because in the words of my sister, “It’s relaxing.”
5. I must put myself first
Sophomore year was filled with a lot of drama. The ironic part is that it wasn’t even my drama. I had a friend who was going through a challenging time and in my efforts to help her, the drama had begun to spill over into my life. I had to decide to take a step back from the situation and put myself first again. We all want to help other people but we can’t do it at the expense of our own happiness.
6. What you put into your body matters
I’ve never been a very health conscious person beyond the superficial worries of gaining and losing weight. But sophomore year, I developed an addiction to coffee that began to bring out the worst of my anxiety. It caused me to have one of my worst panic attacks while sitting in the library sipping on an iced latte. I had to make a change for my mental health and it has made all the difference.
7. My mom is my best friend
I am at a point in my life where I am completely unashamed to say that I am 21 and I call my mother a minimum of once a day. I am convinced that the phrase “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” was originated by a kid in college talking about their mom. Or maybe their dog because I miss him too.
8. I am just one perspective
Up until college, my beliefs were my parent’s beliefs. I had such a narrow perspective on the world. College completely shattered that perspective. I can’t stress enough how important it is to step out from your own lens and see the world from another viewpoint. I highly suggest everyone take a Women's and Gender studies class at some point in their life.
9. I am resilient
I can handle so much more than I ever expected. College has challenged me and has forced me to rise to the occasion. My mother always tells me to just “keep pushin’ through.” And I do.
10. Good things come to those who wait
The release of Harry Styles’ new single came out last week. Need I say more?
