Going off to college, the gateway to adulthood. You live away from the parents for the first time in your life. For most of us, college is the most freedom we have ever possessed. However just when you start to feel like you have a grasp on this being an adult, college has away off making you feel like a child all over again.
1. Professors In College Don't Care
Professors in college aren't High School teachers. They care about our success but aren't going to hold our hands. They don't care if we show up to class or do our homework. They are more than willing to answer our questions, but only if we ask. Our success is up to us and only us.
2. TIME MANAGEMENT!!!
Being a Magnet student and playing three high school sports, I thought I had great time management. So during freshman orientation when they stressed time management, I thought I could check that box. However, college has a millions of opportunities pulling us in a thousand directions. We also have nobody parenting us for the first time in our lives. Not only does it take a lot of self control to maintain good grades, but time management is critical to succeed.
3. Money Doesn't Grow On Trees
I remember the day before I started my freshman year of High School my dad told me that if I wanted to go to college, I would need a scholarship. I didn't really understand the significance of that statement. I thought I finally understood it when I received my financial aid letter from my dream school with a fantastic scholarship and instantly knew it wouldn't be enough. I am only beginning to understand the full value of money. I got my first job this last semester, and I started seeing everything from a Checker's burger to summer classes in hours of filing. (Who knew a Checker's burger is worth an hour's worth of sorting receipts) My ultimate goal is to be able to pay for my college and sorority dues myself. A goal I once thought was more than possible; I now realize exactly how much work, time, and effort that actually costs.
4. It isn't "such a small world after all"
Going to a small private christian school for my Elementary and Middle School years, I knew diversity was not my strong suit. Then I went a "6A" High School, and I believed I had a huge dose of diversity. I am extremely thankful that Mercer proved me wrong, My favorite class my freshman year was my INT class. We had opinions from all over the spectrum and that is what made the class and discussions so amazing and unforgettable. I love learning and seeing how different backgrounds and life experiences effect our outlooks and beliefs.
5. College Drama is still High School Drama
Maybe I am the only one, but I HATED High School's petty everyday drama. I thought going to college would mean a stop to all that drama. However, people still talk about who is doing who, he said vs she said, and all the other daily drama. I am beginning to think this is just human nature, and that I'll never escape.
6. Handling the Parents
My biggest fight in college wasn't with my roommate, my boyfriend, or my friends. It was with my parents. I thought going to college I would immediately know how to handle myself, and my parents would immediately stop treating me like a child. Unfortunately I don't know how to communicate with them like an adult and instead revert back to my High School ways and just avoid confrontation with them. It has lead to a huge rift in our relationship. Trying to become an adult is turning out to be more like a slow metamorphosis rather than an instant flipping of a switch.
7. I am just 19
Entering college I had a game plan. I knew what degree I wanted, the courses it would take, and the career it would produce.Then I started college. I think one of the things I hate most in our society is that everyone expects me to know what I want to do for the rest of my life. That's an extremely scary possibility considering I still watch Disney movies in my oversize pj's on Netflix while eating vanilla ice cream with sprinkles. College is turning out to have more growing up and discovering who I am than I first believed. I can see how far I have come already, but the more I discover the more I realize just how far I have to still grow.
I have experienced so much growth over these last few months. Never have I ever felt so free to be who I am. Everyday I discover something about myself, and sometimes that happens by reminding how young and inexperience I truly am. College has been a wonderful tool to build me up without letting me get to far ahead of myself
