Well, here I am, with my 20th birthday in eight days, sitting in my dorm room eating Grape-Nuts straight from the box, washing them down with warm water from a Batman mug I haven't washed in at least five uses. College has taught me how to be perfectly content with that.
Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator
Rewind to Lindsay: 2015. Daydreams of falling asleep in a perfectly personalized dorm room with my clean sheets and purses all hung up on the wall. Books organized, perfect lighting. Fridge full of food that I like to eat.
Somebody should have slapped me.
Living at school has taught me more about myself than I could have ever imagined. First, that I'm not the picky eater I had always considered myself to be, and ramen tastes much better once you drain out the water and put mac and cheese powder in it. It's also taught me that there's nothing wrong with having cereal for all three meals every once in a while.
I've learned that it's crucial to separate your laundry. I promise you, that your perfectly white sheets really will turn into the most infuriating shade of pastel pink.
My roommate taught me that its okay to nap 4:00 pm and wake up at 7. Chances are, that after all of your classes, you'll still be able to fall asleep at your usual time.
I learned that people like me just the same if I'm wearing jeans and heels, or sweatpants with half-removed makeup smeared on my face after a shower. I think that's one of the most important things living with other people has helped me see. Being around other people 24-7 makes you vulnerable. They see you on the good days and the bad days and that's something I've not only accepted but grown to love. I enjoy being naked-faced and comfortable around people who are honest in their kindness.
I learned that sometimes, neither you or your roommate are in the mood to do the dishes. Sometimes for a week. Most of the time for two weeks. It's okay, even after it crusts over, it will still wash off.
I learned that regular sized command-strips don't work in the shower.
I learned how to share. We share blankets, and plastic baggies, and you better believe that if you're all out of ramen then someone will help you out. We share long, long nights of studying while being half distracted by Netflix and. We share makeup, homework answers and clothes. We share these little rooms and hallways.
I learned that microwaves don't self-clean.
I learned that its hard to get crumbs out of your bed, and lint rollers don't only have to be used for lint. They make a great vacuum replacement and dresser cleaner.
Most importantly, in one way or another, I learned that we're all in the same boat.
We're all doing our best here. Were all just kids trying to figure out how this thing works. How can we get enough sleep but still finish our work? How can we do our laundry with only a teaspoon of detergent left? How do you download this office app? How do you get to the science center? What in the world happened to all of my socks, because I swear they all had matches when I put them in the washer? I learned that college is a group effort sometimes, and once in a while, the best you can do is wing it. I learned that I'm not as much of a confused mess and I thought I was. Well, maybe I am, but at least I'm not the only one.
