Coming into freshman year, I couldn’t wait. I knew my move-in date by heart and had a mental countdown until I could start unpacking in my first dorm room. Visions of cute, decorated rooms full of potential friends danced in my head. My backpack was ready weeks in advance, my books were ordered and I was going to love every moment of college.
Looking back, I was completely unprepared for the whirlwind of first semester. The fantasies that lived in my head over the previous summer rarely came true. After the first few weeks of adjusting, I began to understand why so many kids before me complained about college when I thought it was going to be the most amazing experience of my life.
As I started to develop my routine, I began to miss my queen bed, my own bedroom and a private bathroom. Wearing shoes in the shower was a foreign concept to me, as well as sharing every detailed moment with a roommate. It’s not that I don’t enjoy dorm life, but sometimes I do miss the peace and quiet of home, and the meals served there. Cafeteria food is fine, but nothing compares to the first night at home back from college when sitting down to a warm meal prepared only moments before instead of reheated frozen trays.
If I want food off campus, for a change of pace and quality, it becomes expensive. On a college budget, I question every purchase I make. I ask myself if I really need new toothpaste or if I can make the current on last just a week longer. Then there’s the dreaded beginning of every semester, which makes my wallet cry from the cost of books. Start saving because books aren’t cheap.
Although it’s expensive, learning to live on a small budget can create great memories. Splurging for a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and a bag of popcorn before going on a Netflix binge with friends can become the highlight of the week. Some of my fondest memories of first semester come from nights like these. There were no shortage of new memories for me. Everything I did was new, so each moment became an adventure. From attending my first class, to my first Friday night, to my first final exam, every experience was novel and created a lasting impression.
With all the new memories, came the mix of old ones. I often found myself reminiscing about high school my first few weeks at college. High school was predictable. It was familiar. I knew where I fit in and that I was going home at the end of every day. At college, I didn’t have my parents to talk to every night. Constant encouragement and support became a thing of the past. I still call my mom every day, but it’s not quite the same when a conversation can’t end in a hug.
At the end of the day, I found my way through it. It was sometimes scary and yes, I still miss my parents and my bed, but I have also made great new friends and thrive in the freedom and independence of being a college student. It’s not at all like I expected, but I have found that the unknown isn’t always bad. It’s how we all grow and learn.
