When I walk past the boxes full of old books, comforters and clothes piled up in my family’s living room, the reality of moving to another state for college sinks in a little bit more. I’m excited, of course. Buying new school supplies and dorm room items has been, in its own odd little way, fun. Despite all my excitement to begin my first year at Smith College, I cannot help but think about how I will be on my own for the first time. I was the only person from my high school to apply to Smith and now I’ll be the only one to attend this year.
The idea of being on my own in a new state, at a new school, with new people and without my family, is a bit overwhelming. I’ve been lucky enough to have made friends with other first-years before heading off to Smith thanks to Facebook, but for the most part, I still will be on my own. Sometimes I second-guess this decision, my nerves getting the best of me, but at the end of the day, I know going to college alone will help me.
I went through the same situation in high school; I was the only girl in my eighth-grade class to go to my Catholic all-girls’ high school and, despite the initial anxiety, it was one of the best decisions of my life. By being on my own, I was able to grow into the young woman I am now without thinking about the people I grew up with and what they would think. I could explore new interests and grow as a person. Not knowing anyone at my high school allowed me to gain an entire new group of friends who helped me focus on my grades and on improving myself.
Attending college by myself will bring similar benefits, I believe. While I won’t entirely be reinventing myself (thanks to my high school experiences, I have an idea of who I am), I will be able to grow and become a more independent person. I can keep to myself when I need alone time or I can expand my social circle and embrace my inner social butterfly.
What I have learned from high school, first and foremost, is that the friends you keep can bring you down or raise you up. I would very much prefer the latter. What I most look forward to about attending Smith is the strong female friendships I am bound to make and keep over the years. Being in an environment that empowers women will be much less isolating and will help me become a stronger individual.
On my own, I can explore new options and won’t be preoccupied with keeping up with old high school friends in a new environment. Those old friends will, of course, remain my very best friends and I intend on keeping contact with them. I have remained close friends with a girl I met on the first day of Pre-K and I am positive that we’ll remain close, along with my high school friends. Distance makes the heart grow fonder; this I know for a fact. When I come home and meet up with old friends, I’ll be able to share my new college experiences, just like they will theirs.
Deciding on attending Smith was an easy decision. College, undoubtedly, will not be easy, but my inner strength will keep me grounded and I know that horribly awkward first semester (when I’m still finding my core group of friends) will pass, leading to a beautiful and rich experience.
