“Are you excited for college?”
“Are you ready for this momentous, pivotal change that is going to alter your entire lifestyle forever?”
This summer, no matter where I go or who I meet, I am greeted with these questions in some form or another, as are thousands of other freshmen-to-be all around the country and the world. At first, I would answer very enthusiastically with the great city of Boston, the anticipation of meeting interesting new people, and the pretty picture of the ideal college experience in my mind. But my response has slowly dwindled down to a small nervous laugh and a noncommittal nod as move-in day looms nearer. Why? Because I realized that I have no idea what college will actually be like. I have no inkling of what my future holds. I don’t know what to expect.
The smaller questions have obvious answers. How do you feel about having to use communal bathrooms? Scared. Are you excited for the dining hall food? Unbelievably. Are you going to miss home? Of course. Are you constantly confused? Yes. But the big questions like “Are you ready for this?” make me contemplate my decisions, consider my existing knowledge, and ultimately leave me dumbfounded and unable to answer completely truthfully.
Of course, other people's experiences and the countless resources we have at our fingertips have helped me form a vague representation of what the general college scene is like, but what will it be like for me? What if everything I have heard and seen has set my expectations too high? What if nothing goes right? We all have different mindsets and interpretations, varying opinions and thoughts, distinctive personal backgrounds and priorities, so I won’t have the answers to these questions until I am living them. And the thought of that is terrifying. But it’s also weirdly thrilling; the vast unknown holds innumerable prospects. Therefore, I have begun to view college as a train ride to my next destination. Right now, I’m standing on the platform with open doors in front of me, a few seconds left before they close. All I need to do is take the leap and enjoy the ride.
So what can you expect when you don’t know what to expect? As I see it, there are broadly three possibilities ahead: nothing will meet my expectations, I will hate everything about college and will spend my time wistfully thinking of the past and home; everything will match or exceed my expectations, I will absolutely love college, have the perfect experience, and somehow transform into the person I’ve always dreamed of being; or I will try to keep an open mind, enjoy the good times and brave the bad, laugh and cry, and I will choose to learn, mature, and make the best of the next four years of my life.
