I arrived home Tuesday afternoon from school, and by Tuesday evening, my mom and I had a list of adult things I needed to do. Some of it is fun. Shopping is always a good time when you know what you're looking for. Finding a good deal is always exciting. Buying kitchen things is a new adventure. I don't know if I can use all of these things properly, but I'll get the hang of it; it's part of the experience.
Some of it is not fun. I had to get quarters out of my bank account for laundry; that's just unfortunate. I had to transfer oodles of money to my debit card account and put money on my metro card. Important things -- just not very exciting. What is exciting is that this is the end of my pre-intern journey, and soon, it will all become real. What has been a series of email exchanges, applications and interviews will now become my real life for 12 weeks. In comparison, this pre-intern stage feels so short. But also, the anticipation has made it feel like much longer.
Being at home after a full semester at college gives you time to reflect on the semester as a whole. It's all rushing around until you can come home and sit on your couch. I don't have a novel sitting on my nightstand waiting to be read before a quiz the next day. I don't have articles sitting in my inbox waiting to be edited for the school paper. I don't have any IM sports games, and I don't have to be at any meetings. Instead, I get a chance to focus on what is really important. I can spend time with the people who got me to where I am today, the ones who are supporting me through this transition process.
I have my mom to help me shop, and to give me some of her recipes so I don't starve, but also to teach me safety lessons any young female should know. I have my dad to send me off with some tools, help me move in, and give me a hug when I will inevitably cry when they leave me in a new city by myself. And I have two brothers who have prepared me to be able to fight anyone at any time. With that -- and the safety lessons -- I should be set.
Of course, those are not all the ways I have been prepared by my family, but I do know who my biggest fans are as I head to D.C. this weekend. When this article is published, I will already be moved in and will be looking forward to the start of this new section of my life.
So amidst all of the errands, money transfers and shopping, I have found valuable time to spend with my family in these three days at home. It may not be a lot, but with less time quantity comes more time quality.
Thank you family for a great short time at home and a summer full of fun. That fun will come in different ways than usual, but it will still be fun nonetheless. Thank you for the encouragement, the love and the support.
