Some may say that senior year is the start of the countdown to the end of your high school careers; some may say it's the ACT. Either way, you're probably pretty pumped for that last bell to free you from all the responsibilities of high school.
After being out of high school for three years, I've been able to see people I graduated with continue on with their lives, as well as people who have graduated since then, and their excitement. I remember when my countdown started, as the weather got warmer and reminded me of the upcoming freedom. I also remember all the expectations I had for what was about to happen after that final bell rang.
Freedom, or lack thereof, was not all it was glorified to be. Freedom from school hours meant increased availability for my work schedule. I basically lived in my maroon polo, scanning groceries. I don't know at what point in my life summer stopped meaning you got to wake up whenever you wanted and stay out until Red Apple was serving breakfast.
Getting into college was a lot of work. A lot of paperwork, a lot of trips to my school, a lot of emails and a lot of online forms. "Every class says to buy the books," "Why are books $400?," "When did school start charging for books?," "She said to wait 'til the first day to buy books."
The transition from high school to college is like going 100-0. You're constantly watched over and escorted places and hall passes are assigned and you have to ask to use the restroom and then bam! College hits. Signing up for my classes for the first semester had me taking five classes: Three on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2–9 p.m. and two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. I swear I looked at my counselor like "Is this real?" Easy-peasy lemon squeezy with only five classes. What I wasn't aware of was how much responsibility that put on my shoulders. If I didn't show up for class, I just got marked absent. No calls home, no yellow slips asking me to report to the office. I was in charge of myself now.
With greater responsibility comes greater bills. I didn't know how easy I had it being able to pull into the high school parking lot and park wherever as I strolled into school and grabbed whatever for breakfast and lunch. The first time I saw the school, I couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful it was, and now I know why. Colleges. Charge. For. Everything. Parking, you would think, is an essential. Chances are most college students have a car, especially in a small college town like Dekalb. Parking is free because everyone has to get to class somehow, right? Wrong. For every housing building, class building parking lots and levels you had to have a pass. That costs you a little more than $100 a year. Be forewarned — just because you have a pass does not guarantee you a spot. They're not painting your name on a spot because you bought a pass. You are now competing with 600 other business majors and 300 other art majors for a spot in that specific lot. May the odds be ever in your favor. OK but seriously, just because you move out, your kitchen raid card still stands good at home right? Hopefully, because college food is expensive. *Helpful hint* buying mom or dad Tupperware for holidays increases chances of home-cooked food fighting for room in your mini fridge (most likely with some Skol vodka and cheese sticks).
Greek life catching your eye? I know those T-shirts and super cute "throw what you know" pictures were reeling me in for a good while too. Sororities and fraternities charge for acceptance as well, so more fun also equals more money. Some may say the life long sister/brotherhood is worth it; I really just want the T-shirts.
Don't get me wrong, college isn't all "bills and nowhere to park." College is a great experience where many people can find themselves and some of their lifelong friends. If you're lucky, you'll also find a career you love (no matter how many times you change your major). It's a huge eye-opener how different life becomes after high school — just be sure you're prepared for it.
