Dear the place I call home, my college,
It was only three years ago that I was convinced high school would be the greatest experience of my life, that I would never be able to move on without my friends. It was only three years ago that I walked down the aisle to retrieve my high school diploma, what I thought was the ticket to a miserable future. It was only three years ago that I bawled my eyes out as my family dropped me off at my new college dorm, filled with anxiety, wishing I could go back to where I belonged.
But those three years feel like another lifetime. As my last semester of college approaches, I realize the turn my life is about to take, and this time it won’t just be for the next level of education.
When I began college, I had no idea this strange campus would become my safe haven. I had no idea that the dining hall would become my own kitchen that I could roll out of bed and walk to as I would in my parents’ house. I didn’t realize my dorm room would become my sanctuary, my hideout. I never thought of how much I would get to know and appreciate my campus with every time I walked to and from my class buildings.
But most importantly, I didn’t realize this would be the last time I can call my school my home.
As I consider everything I took for granted, I am now open-minded to everything I have to thank my college for. Because of living on a college campus, I got to have a never-ending sleepover with my best friends (even on week days! Score!) for the past four years. Because of my campus dining hall, I was able to eat even when I had no money. Thanks to those Thursday night bars, I mastered the task of staying out until 4 a.m. and making it to my morning class on time (the key is to keep your makeup on from the night before… saves you extra time to sleep).
After being surrounded by guys 24/7, I didn’t discover what I’m looking for in a boyfriend; except I found out everything I don’t want in a man and everything to never settle for. I’ve learned that “kill them with kindness” is one of the most valuable lessons to be taught. It’s better to be the one who smiled than the one who didn’t smile back, and everyone will remember you for being the bigger person.
I’ve learned how important it is to keep to yourself, and to know that not all of your friends need to know your business, otherwise, you’ll probably end up getting a couple of head turns when you walk in a room now that everyone knows who you hooked up with last night.
The part of it all I have to be most thankful for is that I found out who I am here. There’s nowhere else in the world that I will ever remember as the place that holds every moment of me becoming my true self. The walls of my dorm room hold all of the screams of finals stress, but they hold the sounds of all my favorite songs when I sing and dance in my underwear. My pillows hold my tears from when life feels like too much to handle, but they hold the dreams I have at night about dating my ultimate crush (usually starring Justin Bieber). My notebooks hold the ink of all my doodles when I’m daydreaming in class, but they also hold my knowledge and everything I’ve learned. All of my friends hold a little bit of greatness in themselves that I don’t have yet, but hope to someday.
I can look in the mirror and be confident in knowing that I’m on my way to being the person I’ve always aspired to be.
Thanks to the experience I’ve had at college, I am more independent. I am mature. I am bolder, I am wiser, I am ready to take on the world.
I am about to graduate college, and my life is about to begin.
Sincerely,
A bittersweet senior
