Like most millennials, I grew up with Harry Potter in my life. I remember reading every single book in middle school, and waiting anxiously for all the movies to finally be made. I remember wanting to receive a Hogwarts letter as a kid, so that I too could go off to school and away from my family. I remember wanting to find friends like Hermione and Ron. Most importantly, I remember how much Harry Potter and his friends helped me prepare for everything adulthood threw at me. Harry Potter grew up with me. The characters were there through everything, whether it be my middle school tragedies, or the struggles of being an adult. I learned so many life lessons from the characters of the series. Now here I am in college, away from my family, and they are still helping me out.
1. When I finally received my Hogwarts letter...
OK so maybe I never really received an actual Hogwarts letter, but I did receive a college acceptance letter. Moving away to school scared me speechless. I was like Harry trying to get to platform 9 & 3/4. Had it not been for someone helping me get it, my school, and showing me the ropes, I would have more than likely hit the meteorically wall of life.
2. Making life-long best friends...
Before I got to college, I knew no one. After my first week of classes, I just knew I was doomed to be lonely during my entire college experience. That's when I began meeting people in my tower, and around campus. At first, I thought that most of the people I was meeting would turn out to be strangers. By the end of the year, we were all best friends. We were a squad, and I knew that we would all do anything for one another. College brought me my own Hermione and Ron!
3. Knowing the struggle of loud neighbors...
Don't get me wrong, I loved my neighbors for the most part, but sometimes I just wanted to sleep or binge-watch Friends. I didn't want to listen to your group talks, or your Netflix. I would have never listened to so much rap music during the day had it not been for some of the kids on my hall. I could always count on them knocking on my door at the worst times possible, or even barging in to ask for something. Even though my neighbors were loud at times, I can honestly say that they were probably some of the best, and sweetest, people I had ever met. My only regret is that I won't have all of their drama, and music, to listen to next semester.
4. Hearing about free food at campus events...
My roomie and I never wanted to go to the campus events, or to any of the RA activities. Honestly, we didn't want to go unless there was free food. We went to so many activities that were boring just because there was free food. We are broke college students, so every time we saw a sign that said food, we jumped.
5. Realizing that college can't be all bad...
"Happiness can be found in the world of college when one only remembers to search for it." That's not the original quote. Once I got to school and started stressing about classes, grades and money, I realized that if i just twisted the quote a little, it would help me get through those tests and classes.
6. When it's Friday...
Every Friday, students are released to relax for the entire weekend. We might not really party, but as a college student, my favorite kind of partying is staying up all night, watching my favorite TV shows or movies, and hanging out with my best friends. During the week, you can't really talk all night until everyone has crashed, and there's only two of you talking about your deepest darkest secrets at 8 a.m. Yet these are the best kind of parties, because this is how you make lifelong friends.
7. Finally understanding that college isn't everything you'd think it would be...
College isn't like the movies. You won't party every night. You won't have 70 friends in your dorm all the time. You won't look amazing all the time. Odds are, you'll spend most your time in the library, or in your room studying. You'll probably wear your clothing two days in a row. Because you don't see the same people every day, your friends wont always be with you, (even if they are right beside your dorm), but you will keep in touch. You'll suffer immensely, but at the end of the day, you know you'll finally get a degree, and be able to quit that minimum wage job.
8. You're family really is the best...
I left college and honestly thought that I would never see my family until my breaks. I made sure to call my mom at least once a week. I couldn't get enough of those phone calls. I didn't know how to adult, and at every sign of trouble, I called my parents. I soon realized that they weren't going anywhere, and that I didn't need to call them all the time. I could go see them on the weekends. I could adult without them. They never left me. They just pushed me to grow up.
9. Concurring finals is an amazing feeling...
After all those late night study sessions. After spending 24 hours in the library. After having hide-and-seek parties, so you aren't cramming too much; you take your finals! They finally get posted, and you passed that class you were dreading. This accomplishment literally makes you feel like Neville Longbottom when he killed Nagini with Godric Gryffindor's sword!!
10. At the end of the semester it's not goodbye...
Those dreaded farewells at the end of the semester aren't really goodbye. Don't cry, and don't get upset, because odds are you'll text and try everything possible to see each other. You'll probably start a group chat, which everyone will secretly hate because two people will blow it up while you're trying to sleep. But you'll love it, because it will be like those late night talks everyone had in person. You'll plan trips throughout the summer, and when it's time for everyone to finally reunite, you'll be so excited, you won't even realize you're going back to school!
