8 Months ago, on a sunny day, I packed a full car of stuff and made the way to my new home, a tiny dorm on the 7th floor at West Chester University. With no idea how to live on my own and no idea what to expect, I was left alone to figure it out. But as I left everything behind including my friends and the life I was used to, I couldn't be more excited for everything ahead of me.
After a few days living away from home, I started to realize everything started changing. I had so many new things to adjust to, like living in the same room as a complete stranger, who apart from a couple texts, I didn't know much about. I heard all the stories about "psycho" roommates and thought maybe I'd live one of those stories, but by now, with two weeks left, I know I experienced the complete opposite. My roommate turned out to be great, and I couldn't have asked for a better roommate.
From the last two semesters, I've realized I was no longer in high school, and I mean that in a positive and a negative way. Positively, because I didn't have to wake up so early, and I didn't need to dress up or look nice. All I had to do was throw on a pair of sweatpants and sleep in for my 12PM. Negatively, because it all got harder - the professors could be *ssholes and I'd be up till two in the morning just trying to get my homework done from one class. All the work and stress taught me how to manage my time, and figure out how to get everything done without having a complete panic attack.
After about two weeks here, I realized the food was going to get old pretty old, and I would run out of salad and pasta combinations by the first month. But at the same time, I learned going out to eat with friends wasn't just about the plates of food from the dining hall, but also about all the laughs and conversations we had around those large tables. From the food around here, I also learned gaining weight was pretty easy after 3 bowls of ice cream for one meal, and that although the gym was only a minute walk away, I wouldn't be going there to lose the weight very often.
After coming here barely knowing anyone, I got to start a clean slate. I learned how to make new friends, something I didn't have to do since before I was ten years old. From my roommate, to my neighbors, to random girls I met at orientation or at parties, I started to realize it wasn't so hard, not when everyone was a Freshman like me and just looking to make a few familiar faces for the next four years.
So now, two weeks until I get to say goodbye to my freshman year, I have realized there is so much I'm going to miss and so many memories I will forever remember. Sometimes I wish I could just go back to 'Move In Day', and just start all over again, because all of these experiences made me understand just how many paths and how many choices I can make for myself. So to any incoming freshman, make the best of it, and try to remember as much as you can because a lot of those memories might be your best. And to the current freshman, good luck next year, and before you run off back home, turn around and take a look at everything you have accomplished in the past 8 months.
