Going into my first semester of college, so many emotions overcame me. I was nervous, excited, anxious, sad, and ambitious. Nervous for what it was going to be like living three hours away from everything i knew for the last 17 years. Excited for what the future had in store for me. Anxious to make new friends, and explore new things. Sad to leave my family and friends back at home, and ambitious because, I knew my future was so bright.
Well, as move in day came around, sad was the most prominent feeling. Its one thing to say that you're nothing but ecstatic to get out of your boring old hometown you've been stuck in for years, but it is another to actually let go. Watching my parents unload the last of my boxes, and giving them one last tight squeeze before I became a big girl in the real world was truly a life changing moment.
Fast forward, four months later... I have learned lessons to last me a long time. I have made friends that i will keep forever (well at least until next year because we already signed an apartment lease together). And I have made memories to last a lifetime. Here are just a few of the things I have learned
1. It is possible to eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Although you will miss home cooked meals more than anything in the world, it is possible to get a sub from the Subway on campus for every meal.
2. If you weren't a coffee drinker before, college will turn you into one.
In high school, coffee was never my thing and I hated the taste of it. However, in college, its hard to get through a single day without it.
3. You will miss your siblings.
Even though you swore that you wouldn't miss your annoying brothers and sisters for months leading up to move in day, you will. Because, bickering and arguing with your roommate just isn't the same.
4. Nothing from high school really matters.
No one cares if you were in four different clubs, or on three varsity sports teams, or on prom court. Popularity isn't a thing in college, so leave it in high school. Seriously.
5. You are going to change.
Even in the first few months of college, you will change a lot. Don't worry, your friends from high school will be sure to remind you of that all the time. However, change is not always a bad thing. If we all stayed the same person we were our senior year of high school, then thats when we should be concerned.
6. No matter how bad college sucks sometimes, its still better than high school.
The all-nighters, stress, lack of sleep, and seven page papers are better than high school drama and eight hours of school every day, any day. With college comes freedom and responsibility, and although you're going to miss the simplicity of high school every so often, everything about college is so much better.
