Nobody likes thinking about the future; it's a scary thing. Most people, myself included, can't plan their lives two days in advance, let alone five years in advance. Before I graduated high school I thought I had my whole life planned out. I was going to go to Virginia Tech, study Multimedia Journalism and work as an editor of a magazine. I was going to join a sorority, and no not the same one as my sister. I was going to become best friends with everyone I knew before moving in, and I was going to go out every weekend. I was going to make straight A's and I was never going to be homesick.
I can tell you now that the life I planned six months in advance is not the same one I live now. Some things are similar, such as going to Tech and joining a sorority. But most things changed for, what I think, is the better.
I do not study Multimedia Journalism and I do not want to be the editor of a magazine. I do cherish the four years I spent on Yearbook in high school, but it's just not the place for me. I don't want to become the head news anchor of a night time news channel or create and edit videos for a living. Through this realization, I have found something I'm more passionate about: foreign policy and issues. While I still plan on maintaining a degree in PR, using a minor to study foreign policy and national security will prepare me for a lifetime of helping give back to the country that has given me so much to live for.
As far as sororities go, I did end up joining the same one as my sister. I do not regret my choice one bit. Through the recruitment process, I found myself gravitating towards the group of girls I was so "defiant" to join. On one hand, I wanted to break the mold of following in my sister's footsteps. On the other hand (the more dominant I add) I had a new and unique experience each time I entered the house. Those who have been through recruitment understand that sometimes the conversation is too dry and it feels like the round will ever end. Here, I never wanted the rounds to end. I always had a great conversation, people genuinely liked me and not because I was a legacy. I had found my home in the same place that my sister had.
Staying friends with everyone from the first month of school is not a goal that you should strive to achieve. Nor is getting a 4.0 your first semester. People cling to each other the first couple of weeks of college because it's comfortable. You may not be in love with your roommate, but chances are that you hung out a lot first semester because it was easy for you. Personally, I know that it took me a while to branch out. I never thought that I would find one of my best friends living right next door to me, and I will forever be thankful that I found someone who can read my mind almost every time I make a face. As far as grades go, classes are hard. Not everyone's classes are the same either. People constantly tell me that I'm lucky because "liberal arts are easy." But if they knew all the papers that I have to write and all the theories and terms I have to memorize, they would think twice.
Being homesick is inevitable. Even if you aren't close with your parents, you will miss them. You will miss having your own bed to sleep in, a pet to come home to, and not having to wear shoes to go to the bathroom. You will miss walking down to your fridge and having a plethora of food to choose from. You will miss being able to drive wherever you want whenever you want. You will miss your siblings, if you have them. You will miss your high school friends and you will miss how "easy" everything was before college. Embrace the change. Embrace that you will get to have all the comfort of going home once you actually go home. College is for finding yourself, and getting out of your comfort zone.
If you were to ask me where I see myself in five years today, I would honestly reply "I don't know." Sure, I just stated how happy I am that my "plans for the future" have changed, but that doesn't mean they won't change again. I've embraced the change and I'm ready for life to take its next turn. Hopefully, that next turn just means that I get to pass this semester and get a new puppy. :-)
