As I write this, I’m a week from moving away from my home and into a dorm room in a new city. For the first time in my life, I won’t be coming home to my parents (at the time they told me to be home) every day. I’ll be my own responsibility and I don’t know about anybody else, but that kinda freaks me the hell out.
Moving to university is so much more than just going off to school. Everything I do, from how well I do in school to how I use my money, can and will effect me in the future. As move-in day gets closer and closer, the day I have eagerly awaited all summer, I can’t help but have this feeling that I am incredibly unprepared for… well… life. I don’t even know how to wash my own clothes (and I don’t care if you think I’m a brat for that, either).
I’m leaving so many people behind and even though I’ll only be about two hours away, it will still be symbolically hard. I’m leaving a whole part of my life behind, the only part I’ve ever known, in my small town.
To my parents, I won’t forget about you guys. As much as I like to joke about how I’m totally never going to call you guys unlike my sister, I’ll give the house a ring every once in a while. I won’t forget the things you taught me either. I’ll be smart, I’ll be safe. As my dad always tells me, I’ll be sure to “be aware of my surroundings.” I’ll also make you proud, count on that. I love you both.
To my hometown, small as you were, you weren’t all that bad. You may not have the guts and glory of Atlanta or the beauty of my new home Athens, but you still raised me. When I’m a world changing activist or the first female POTUS (I hope), you’ll still be where I came from. You taught me some important lessons and, rest assured, I’ll never forget where I came from.
To my university, you already know I love you. I mean, I’ve committed the next four (possibly seven, if I attend your law school as well) years of my life to you. I’ve also committed a lot of money to you but lets not mention that. There is a reason I chose you, not only now but since I was a little girl, and it is because I knew nothing would ever be more right for me. Trust me, as nervous as I am, I’ve never been more excited for anything before. I know you’ll treat me right. The only other things I have to say are: Athens, I love you and all hail to dear old UGA.
As I pack up my things this week, it will be bittersweet. As my roommate and I put our perfectly coordinated dorm together, we’ll probably get emotional about the fact that our parents kinda left us all by ourselves. As I start classes, I’ll probably wish I went through with my childhood plan of being a real life Nathan Drake (video game treasure hunter), except I would actually get to keep the treasures I found.
Right now all I’m thinking is here goes nothing…
