College is hard at first. It can sometimes even feel like sleepaway camp. Everyone who has been through it knows this fact. But at some point, you won't want to go home anymore because, well, you will finally feel like you are home.
I, a college student, finally feel at home.
I finally understand why everyone calls college the best four years of your life. It's because...
- Your best friends become your family. You eat together, sleep next to each other, and motivate one another. Your family isn't there to help you with your homework, proofread your papers, or there to tell you that you need to stay in and go to bed early on that Saturday night. Your friends do all that now, but all while having fun and making funny-twisted-inside jokes along the way.
-You feel like you have your own little community. Maybe it's just the fact that I go to a school of 5000+ students, and see everyone I know within a days' span, or at the one frat I decide to go to one Friday night... but you feel like you live in your own town and your neighbors are your best friends. It's the weirdest thought, but so awesome all at once. Instead of walking across the street for an apple from good, old, Granny Smith; you can walk across the hall for some help on your upcoming assignment from that cute boy in your class in your cute pizza pajamas, like "hey wanna slice of this?" (jk don't say that). But seriously, college really is a magical place.
-You're making life friends. You might not know it now, but those friends you're taking trips to the hospital with, staying up late fantasizing over the guy who looked at you from across the party, or making tea for you when you're sick, might also be behind you in a few years at the alter. Love you guys!
-You are responsible for yourself, which means you learn your weaknesses and strengths right away. You learn if you really are an extrovert or an introvert. You realize you like broccoli when it's not being forced down your throat. And you realize you actually hate running, after four years of cross country, and did it just for the team.
-You're finding yourself. You are figuring out that you actually can write well, just not on your English papers that matter, of course. You are figuring out what shampoo brand works best for you, not just the one your mom bought for you since you're doing the target runs/amazon prime-ing. You are finding out whether you're a white cheddar cheese it girl, or a normal cheese it girl... and so on.
-You're in charge of your faith life. Whether you grew up with a religion or not, you are figuring out what you truly believe in and not just your family. This goes along with finding yourself.
-You're in charge of your own money. There's nothing like venmoing your friend 75 cents for the Uber around the corner. But that's what makes it so fun... I mean the 75 cents part, being in charge of money is scary!
-You clean everything. At home, you had to just clean your room, but now your room is your whole house. You might even have a cleaning schedule. And if you do, give yourself a pat on the back, because you make up the 5 percent of the college population!
-You don't think much before changing infront of your roommate, or leaving the bathroom doors open (if you're in a suite). It's weird but totally normal.
And finally, you will call it home. Maybe the first time will be when you're on the phone with your mom, telling her you're on your way home from class. Or letting your suitemates know you'll meet them at home after dinner. But it will happen. And when it does, be happy you've got a place to call home away from home.
