We have been talking about it since senior year, the first year of college. So much was riding of this, from applications, graduation, and dorm shopping; spring flew by and summer arrived. All of a sudden it's May and you're packing up more things than you thought you owned, your car is filled to the roof. You hug your pet and set off with you heart hammering in your chest, you're ready to greet the unknown. You meet your roommates you have already stalked on social media and bring your bags up all three flights of stairs. Then the time comes and you kiss you mom on the cheek and your dad gives you a bear hug. Your sibling makes some jokes, but hugs you a little tighter than usual, then they are gone. And in that moment, college starts.
You attend every single welcome week event because of course free food and t-shirts. Then you meet all these people and classes start. You get involved on campus and finally figure out how to navigate the cafeteria. You have roommate dinners at least twice a month and finally, work up the nerve to talk to the cute boy in your class. You're doing it, like really being in college. Then finals are here and you take back every complaint you ever made about high school exams. You find yourself completely sleep deprived but happier than you thought possible after being up for 18 hours because the people you love most, the ones you met in August, are sitting on the floor of your dorm eating french fries and coffee with you at 3 a.m.
Then, faster than you can catch your breath, it's January. You realize how bad of a decision those 8 a.m.'s were when it's negative zero degrees outside and you have to leave your bed. You recommit yourself to your GPA, which means you only watch Netflix half as much now. Winter comes and goes, and slowly you realize how much you actually love your school. You know where everything is and by this point, you have signed yourself up for half of the clubs offered there.
You have learned how to take real notes, powerpoints are rare in college, cram for an exam that is 25 percent of your grade in one night, and you actually do your own dishes. (Check it out, Mom). The how-to guides can't explain doing your laundry at 2 a.m. because you got busy and need your running shorts, they can't prepare you for how close you will get to one roommate or how much you can't stand the other one. It isn't like the books, movies, or even older siblings and friends say.
No frat guys are going to give you a degrading nickname your first day on campus and the roommate horror stories are fake ... mostly. Real life college is hard, lonely and scary at times. But in the midst of it all, you suddenly realize the spontaneous coffee runs with these people that you didn't know four months ago, are now your second family. Every fear and hardship are worth it because you found your place. I can't tell you how your freshman year will be, but all I can say is chase after it. Be bolder than you usually are. Most importantly, don't change yourself. High school is a small place, but in college if you stay genuine I promise you will find people that love the things you do.
Finally, it's May. You are packing up your dorm, that cheesy pom-pom from the student section of the football games you attended, the receipt from the movie you and your roommates went to on your first night, and countless pictures and mementos that have collected themselves throughout the year. You don't have time to process all that you are leaving behind as you ingest dangerous amounts of coffee and make flash cards until your hand cramps. You just tell yourself to get through finals and suddenly, you have. And you are packing up the last of your clothes and it hits you like a punch to the stomach. Freshman year is done. The good times and the not so good times are past you and sophomore year is looming ahead.
Looking over the past nine months I am amazed at how my life has changed for the better. Having Jesus by my side and friends that are more like family made my freshman year unforgettable. You used to laugh and roll your eyes when people said it is over before you know it. But as I finish packing and say too many goodbyes, if I can tell you anything, it's, don't blink.
Cheers to freshman year.
