How would someone define the word "college?" I know before I entered my freshman year, I would get anxiety just by hearing the word. Why? Expectations. Expectations. Expectations. College; a place where I have to get good grades, write 30 page papers, clean my room, eat processed food, party EVERY DAY, and introduce myself to new people...you're kidding right? Well, that's how Instagram and the stories of returning college students make it seem anyway. From this "insight," I was fully content with nothing having to change. I was more than content with just graduating high school, knowing that my high school friends were my friends for life and living in the comfort of my mom's home 24/7. But of course, I came to the realization... scratch that, my mom made me come to the realization that I was just afraid. She used the word lazy but I prefer "afraid," it makes you kind of feel bad for me... right? Well, now being a sophomore in college, I have experienced much more than what those college grads and their Instagram posts claimed college was. They left out a lot, and I'm here to fill you in.
Let's start with the fact that although you aren't happy about having to live with someone else, (this is also coming from an only child who was 102.7% unhappy with this thought) the experience of waking up to a stranger every day and saying goodnight to that same stranger every night turns out to be comforting. Yeah, actually comforting. The fact is, that once strange person on the other side of the room is now the friend who asks about your day, sees your reaction when that cute boy you drunkenly gave your number to actually texts you, comforts you when you're homesick, and is always there chiming in on the conversation you're having over Face time with your friend from home. It's funny actually... your roommate may not seem like your best friend considering you both may have a different group of friends, but at some point you're going to realize he/she was the only constant of your first year at college and possibly the next three years that follow.
When I thought of the word college I got anxious from the idea that I had to be something I'm not. I love to dance, meet people, and go out -- don't get me wrong, but to do it every night?! One, my liver can't handle that and two, ya girl needs her 8 hours of sleep. Jokes on me though ladies and gents -- college isn't only partying! WHAT?! Yeah. Is it a big part? Only if you make it one. Fortunately, we have full control over who we're friends with therefore that gives us the power to choose the friends that will a) respect our decision not to go out seven days of the week or b) the friends who will stay in with us because they know dang well that they are just as broke and tired as we are.
But don't get me wrong, a little push to go have a good time on a weeknight to get away from the stress of schoolwork isn't such a bad idea. The point is... it's your decision. Just because it seems like every newly graduated college kid didn't waste one night watching Netflix in their dorm, doesn't mean that you can't embrace binge watching Grey's Anatomy alone once in a while. The fact is, those college graduates only show and talk about the college experiences that they want to share; a.k.a. they leave out the part where they were crying because they missed their moms and weren't in the mood to go party, let alone talk to anyone on campus.
College is a place of change growth. I prefer to use the word growth because to some, the word "change" tends to give off the idea of not being who you are and becoming someone else entirely. I understand that at the end of your four years at college, you may look back and not even recognize who you were, but if that happens, I hope you grew and changed in ways that allowed you to stay true to yourself and your morals.
