Going to an all-girls high school was arguably one of the best decisions I have ever made. It changed me in an infinite number of ways (all for the best) and truly shaped me into who I am today. I could not have imagined how formative the environment would be nor could I have planned to discover and cherish a sisterhood quite like the one my 62 sisters gave me. However, as academically prepared as I was for college, there were certainly a few things that my all-girls high school did not prep me for.
1. Boys
Probably the biggest thing I wasn't prepared for was the abundance of boys all over campus. They were in the dining halls, in the dorms, in the gym (which I honestly don't frequent but I thought I would give the illusion that i'm ~fit~) and in my classes.There is absolutely nothing more surprising than hearing a boy answer a question in class after listening to only girls speak for the past 4 years. I forgot, for the most part, how to interact with boys IRL and how to hold non embarrassing conversations with them. Can't say i'm complaining about the co-ed environment but man was it a culture shock.
2. Dressing for class
After wearing a uniform (or sweats on dress down days) every day for 4 years, I completely forgot how to dress myself for class. I used to roll out of bed 5 minutes before I had to leave, brush my teeth, put on my uniform, and throw my hair up in a messy ponytail. And let me tell ya, that was doing the most. It's hard to break from those patterns and look decent, especially for my 8:30's (just ask my roommate who absolutely judges me for wearing sweatshirts to class almost every day).
3. Acting in public
At an all-girls school, it's completely normal to sit in class with your legs sprawled apart or slumped down in your chair because there's truly no one to impress (Half the time we would lay on the floor). It's the norm to nap in the hallways during your free periods or walk around with blankets once it gets cold. You probably broke out into song (sometimes over the loudspeaker) at least 4 times a day. You went to classes without your shoes on and in the same pair of tights that you wore all week. And you definitely spent the first 15 minutes of every class asking your teacher about her significant other. So, going from that to college, where I'm expected to sit like a functioning human being and not take naps in public, was a harsh transition.
4. Normal Conversation Topics
All-girls schools are rare, but beautiful places where one can simply scream, "does anyone have a tampon?" at any given point and not get judged. Your lunch table conversations are the most exciting part of the day and the topics probably range from what Sarah's boyfriend was seen doing last weekend to that gnarly pimple you finally popped on your back. No topic is off limits or too inappropriate to discuss in public. You talk more about how hot Channing Tatum is in Magic Mike than roughly anything else and you probably end up quoting She's The Man at least 4 times a day. I had to learn what was considered "normal" conversation topics with people I was just meeting and man was that difficult.
5. Leaving Daycare
My all-girls school was the epitome of "daycare". Though we were pushed hard academically (try taking 5 AP's your senior year) and challenged to be the best we could be, we also got away with secretly ordering pizza to school, wearing fuzzy socks over our tights, singing high school musical between classes, napping in the hallways, and moving due dates way past their original time. Teachers were our friends, everything was documented via Snapchat, and we often ended up watching random youtube videos in class instead of actually taking notes. We got days off to perform skits or make music videos. We stole stop signs for pep rallies, we pied teachers in the face, and we decorated our hallways for any and every occasion. College sure wasn't the daycare I loved and became terrifyingly used to.
(don't worry mom I'm a functioning adult now I swear)
