I am a college student, trying to lay the foundation for the rest of my life. So if I have to sit in the nosebleed seats to see Beyoncé in concert, I'm more than okay with that.

I am okay with the simple things (and the cheap ones) until one day I can afford the "nicer" things in life.

Admittedly, my life was incredibly comfortable up until I started college, where I got a really interesting wake-up call. I have to thank my parents for the easy life they provided for me and my siblings.

Every Christmas we had more than enough presents under the tree. I attended ballet lessons for sixteen years and when I needed new pointe shoes they always made sure I had what I needed. They took us to Washington DC to learn about the history of our country. We road tripped down to San Francisco to eat good food and visit friends in Wine Country. I was sent to Europe after I graduated from high school and got to see the world on my own, with the support of my family the entire time.

I don't think we were ever spoiled, we were taught to prioritize what we needed and work hard for what we wanted, but I recognize completely I have been extremely lucky to enjoy all the benefits of my parents' hard work. Because of that hard work, my siblings and I have been allowed to taste the finer things in life and I cannot lie, I have enjoyed it very much.

Yet, now that I am a new adult, attempting to make it (semi) on my own in college I don't get all those "finer" things now.

After a long day of school and work, I don't get to come home to a nice home cooked meal or go out to a really good restaurant (on my parents' tab). I use whatever I have left of my dining money to buy pasta, and if I'm feeling really fancy, I might even buy myself a pop tart. I can't just go shopping whenever I like at the mall, but I do find myself browsing the racks of Good Will and Buffalo Exchange quite often. I may not go on big trips like I used to all the time, but a bus ride downtown is always an adventure.

Here's the thing. I believe that one day I will be financially stable enough to go to Europe on vacation, eat dinner at my favorite restaurant on a Saturday night (and order whatever I want!), and even buy jeans without an employee discount. I believe that one day I will be able to give back to my parents for everything they gave me.

Until then though, I am fine with wearing hand-me-down sweaters from the thrift store, eating hot pockets for lunch, dreaming up elaborate plans to get free housing (a tent in the parking lot...genius), scouring Groupon for deals on haircuts, hip-checking sales associates to get to the sale section, family style dinners with friends, participating in studies on campus, donating plasma for quick cash, sharing textbooks (or not buying them at all), and pirating "The Notebook" online for movie nights.

I'll do what I have to now, saving more money than I am spending, to get to where I want to be one day.

Until then I'll be at the top of the stadium, in the nosebleed section, scream-singing Halo with my best friends on either side of me. I mean, in the end, no matter where you are sitting, it all sounds the same.

PS: Thanks, Mom and Dad, for everything.