As my freshman year in college comes to a close, I thought it would only be right to dedicate an article to the fact that I don't want to continue getting older. Can time stop now? I love being the freshman baby in college. It's acceptable to be inexperienced, a lightweight, not have a fake ID, gain the freshman 15, go to Pub four nights a week... the list goes on and on. But only when it's your first year in college, apparently.
I'm not going to lie. In high school, I absolutely couldn't wait to get older and go to college. Truly, who doesn't want that? The prospect of freedom alone was enough to make me want to run away from home and live a new, adult life in an unknown city. I've only been here for two semesters, and I can guarantee you that they have already been way better than the sum of my four years in high school combined. But now I want to stay 19 forever.
Starting next fall, I'll never again hear the "awww" that comes right after me introducing myself with the words, "Hi I'm Genny, and yeah I'm a freshman." The initial excitement that comes with the first frat party you ever go to diminishes. The allure of being at a bar (probably surrounded by drunken college students) slowly becomes less appealing. The work load that comes with finally becoming involved in your major begins to set in. MAKE IT ALL STOP.
It genuinely feels like the first tailgate I ever went to was last week. But here I am, finishing spring semester, and tailgate season is once again right around the corner. Why didn't high school fly by like this?
What really scares me is the fact that now I can't use the "I'm a freshman" excuse anymore. Why don't I have a job? I'm a freshman. Why am I only taking 12 credits? I'm a freshman. Why don't I have an internship yet? I'm a freshman. "I'm a sophomore" just won't make the cut for these questions.
Now that I'm entering my first summer semester at UCF, I'm going to drag out my freshman status for as long as I can. Summer is always seen as that awkward in-between span of time anyways. I can definitely still fall under the freshman category... right?
However, I do find it important to note that while leaving the freshman phase of my life may be tough, it is also a blessing in disguise. This means one year closer to turning 21! Being able to buy alcohol! And gamble! And go to a 21-and-over club! And buy alcohol! And adopt a child in the UK! And supervise a learning driver! And buy alcohol!
In all honesty, it would be awesome to remain a freshman forever. Easy classes, young enough to mess up but old enough to live alone, watch Netflix all day every day... but getting older is a part of life. And while I loved my freshman year in college, I'm ecstatic to find out what the future holds for me (truthfully speaking, it's probably just going to be full of more fraternity coolers and sleepless nights - but I am okay with this.)
After all, life is what you make it, so I'll make it like I'm a freshman forever anyways.
