I had an epiphany the other day. I realized that I have less than 90 days left of my senior year, less than 90 days left of living in my sorority house, and less than 90 days to make my senior year worthwhile before the real world. I cannot believe that it is all coming to an end. As many of you seniors can probably agree, I still distinctly remember my dorm room days, meals at the dining hall, and the overall newness in a place that was completely foreign to me. All of those incredible memories -- I really do remember them like it was yesterday. I struggled with this realization, and I looked for something -- an encouraging quote, an inspirational person in my life, something to help me grapple with this idea that the best four years of my life are coming to a screeching halt.
How did I "remember things like it was yesterday?” It was such a clique catchphrase, yet it was so true. I remember my older sister looking out for me like it was her job. I remember looking up to the seniors in my sorority and admiring from afar how put together they looked and how much they had their lives on track. That being said, I hope none of the younger girls look at me that way, because if they only knew.
I remember trying to find my first date to my sorority date function and consequently getting set up with a complete random! I remember thinking I had so much time ahead of me, not time to figure out who I wanted to be -- I already knew the woman I wanted to become -- but, rather, what I had to do to get there. Remembering this time in my life like it was yesterday is just one of the cliché sayings that has rung true to me lately.
My dad used to always tell me “beggars can’t be choosers.” This cliché quote can apply in so many different scenarios. When you are at the bar and someone offers you a free drink, but instead of your normal vodka soda with lime, they hand you a whiskey diet. Well, beggars can’t be choosers, so drink up! Or, when you are tight on money and spring break is approaching, so obviously you are trying to eat healthier. We all know the food served at your sorority house may be good, but it’s certainly not always good for you. But, you are poor, and beggars can’t be choosers, so sorority meal plan it is. Because it is totally normal to eat the previously frozen vegetables and mass quantities of baked chicken every day of the week, right?
“When it rains, it pours” is not just true because I live in Tallahassee and when it rains, we all know it is going to pour for days. As a college student, most of us have too much going on for our own good. We stretch ourselves thin and when something does go wrong, it feels like the entire world is caving in on us. Since we are such involved individuals, it is inevitably a domino effect; when one bad thing happens, bring on the rest of them. My mom used to say this quote to me when I was younger and, boy, do I understand it now.
I don’t know about you, but while these cliché quotes did not exactly soothe my anxiety about graduating in less than 90 days, they definitely gave me a good laugh and a time for reflection. At least I seem like I am ready for the real world.
