Moving into my dorm on my first day of my freshman year of college, I knew that I would not be the same person when I moved out. Everyone talks about how amazing and how life changing freshman year is, and I didn't know just how right they were.
You Learn More About Yourself
Although this may seem obvious, I honestly learned that I was a completely different person than I thought I was. Turns out I am a morning person. As much as I tried, I could never stay up past 11:30 and I could not wake up past 10:00. It's just not me. I also learned that I am an incredibly neat person. I was always made fun of by my parents for being completely messy, but once I went to college, I realized that I am a total neat freak. My mom would not be able to make my bed, or do my laundry, or wash my dishes, so I had to do it myself. I also realized that I love the library. I honestly thought I would never spend time there because I hated the library in high school. I always felt out of place there. But in college, I was in the library almost every day. I loved to sit in there and watch Netflix to have a little time for myself, or even to just read a book to take a break from doing my homework. Being in the library was calming for me, and it is one of my favorite places on campus.
You Grow Up
This is probably the lesson that was the most challenging for me. Doing things on my own was very difficult for me. I have always been completely dependent on my family and my friends at own. Suddenly being plucked from my hometown and being dropped in the middle of a different state where I didn't know anyone was incredibly difficult. I had learn that you should probably wash your sheets every two weeks, do your laundry as often as you can, and maybe dust your dorm room every once in awhile. I also learned that getting your own food is really difficult. Even though there is a plethora of food on campus, after awhile, it gets a little old. Plus, now you have to save all the money your mom gave you at the beginning of the year and actually learn how to manage your money. Sometimes, adulting is hard.
You Feel Small
Going from a school of six hundred people to a school of around 5,500 people was a huge change. I suddenly did not know everyone in my grade or even in my whole school and I literally saw someone knew every single say, even in May. There are also people from so many different places around the country instead of just around my city, and it is a culture shock. Especially being around Cubs and Blackhawks when you've been trained as a Blues and Cardinals fan since the womb. There are also so many organizations to become involved in. Greek life, honors societies, intramural sports, clubs, and so much more. Everyone is involved in something different and there are so many opportunities to get involved that you honestly don't know where to turn. It's nerve wracking, but get involved it what your interested in. You will meet your people.
You Love Your Hometown
I can't even count the amount of times I said I was ready to leave St. Louis because there were so many more places to explore. Once I left STL and didn't technically live there, I realized how amazing it is. I missed seeing the arch, and watching the Blues and Cardinals play on tv, and eating at Bread Co instead of Panera and just laying on my couch at home and watching Food Network with my parents. I grew a newfound appreciation for my hometown that I never knew I had until I left it.
You Love Your School
Even if you always want to come home, your classes are incredibly hard, and you have so much homework you can't even think, thinking about leaving for three months is hard. Not seeing your next door neighbors or the girls across the hall from you is strange, and you miss the cram sessions you would have with your class before a test. Leaving is hard, but knowing that you still have three years ahead of you makes the next three months a little easier to get through.
