On my first day of preschool, I was fine. What was I to make of the situation? Like any naive preschooler, I had no idea what I was getting into. Then, there was the second day. After coming to the brutal realization that attending preschool was not a one time deal apparently didn't set well with my 3-year-old self. My mom told me I sobbed when she dropped me off on the second day of school...and every other day after that. Long story short: she made my dad start dropping me off because she couldn't bear to see me cry every single day. That was 15 years ago.
I think there are two types of college freshman. There are the ones who cannot wait until they finally see their parents car drive away. And then, there's me. In fact, I'm the person who started crying before I had even pulled out of the driveway. So, I think that's a category all of its own. Not to say I wasn't and am not excited to go to college, but needless to say, I think getting dropped off at college has shown me the circle of life in full swing as I reverted back to my preschool ways. Who would have thought that 15 years later, I would still be here sobbing as my parents drop me off.
But, here's why I'm okay with being that person: I no longer have light-up sneakers. I have no more baby teeth. I'm a few feet taller. Yet, I still think my parents are the greatest people in the world. When you're three, you will wholeheartedly believe that to be true simply because you have been exposed to the tiniest fraction of life. Your world is a fairytale and tragedy is only getting one toy at the store, rather than two. 15 years later, if I still feel that way, well 1) you may find yourself a college freshman with tear ducts that are working overtime and 2) you will learn that goodbyes never do get easier when it comes to people you love. And that's okay.
While I naturally opt for a more dramatic response when saying goodbye (or doing anything, really), I think that's a good thing. While it may leave me red-eyed and an emotional wreck, goodbyes aren't supposed to be simple. If they are, you may want to find new company to keep. So really, what's all that bad about being the first one to run into some water works? I will always stand by the preschool girl who doesn't like saying goodbye, and you should too. She's in every single on of us. If you've found people that make goodbyes as gut-wrenching as your first days of preschool were (or mine, at least), those are the people you need. Another thing you may need: tissues.
