Let me first just say I dreaded coming to college. Now I know some of you are thinking, “this girl is crazy, there is no way I can relate to this.” But please just hang with me because I promise you'll be able to. I was terrified to come to college. I was terrified to leave all my best friends that I had grown up with. I was terrified to not have my mom in the other room to talk when I needed advice. Most of all, I was terrified of living with a random human in a random building in a random city.
The first month of college was the weirdest experience I have ever been through. I had the best days meeting great people, and then I had the worst days, feeling alone and missing home. Thank God this only lasted a short while. Once I got involved, and especially joining a sorority, I met my people. I met people who I could relate with, call at 2 a.m. to come eat with me, and be there for me when I had the bad days (because trust me, being a college freshman, they do still come). I also met the boy. Now let me just preface by saying that I came into college thinking, “there is no way in hell I am getting into a relationship, I want to be single and free.” This mindset did not last long. I met the boy a short three weeks into college. I see him every single day. I see all my best friends every single day because we practically live together. So the question is how do you go from seeing your people every single day, and having all the freedom in the world, back to the life you once knew of high school friends and parental restrictions?
Thanksgiving was a very good test of this for me. Break only lasted five days and let me tell you it was the longest five days of my life. Don't get me wrong, I loved being with my family and old friends, but when people would tell me “I’m so glad you're home,” I would cringe a little. My home is now San Marcos. My home is my dorm room with my random roommate who is now my best friend. My home is my sorority house where I spend 90 percent of my time. And my home is that boy, who I cant spend a day without. My mind can’t stop the racing questions of “how will going home affect our relationship?” and “will my friendships still be the same when I get back?” All I can think to do is pray. I will pray about how to make it five weeks without my best friends, my boyfriend, and my home.
But here is some motivation for you and mainly for myself. Embrace the five weeks. Reconnect those old high school friendships so that they will be even stronger. Spend extra time with each member of your family. Eat some actually good food because, let's face it, college has changed our diets and it hasn't been for the better. Go on adventures. Explore new things. Get a job and make some money. Take trips to see college friends, unless they are many many states away and then maybe just stick to FaceTime. And let yourself miss your people, because even though you are “home,” you aren't actually home anymore. Five weeks without them. 50,400 minutes without them. You can do it, and so can I. Hopefully.
