It's mid-senior year of high school. The homecoming events/senior scavenger hunt/senior Halloween are all behind you, you've hit send on most of your college apps, and you're sitting in your living room during winter break watching the 4th season of The Office for the fifth time wondering what the hell you are still doing here. The second half of senior year, for me, was just a never-ending period waiting. The moment you pull out of your driveway for the last time and wave goodbye to what your whole life consisted of for the past 18 years. For me, it was a wait full of excitement and optimism. I couldn't wait to leave and start fresh in a new place, away from all of the drama that consumed my high school. But for some, leaving for college is a nerve-wracking experience, and face it with constant worrying and anxiety. So I am writing this article to give those people a whole bunch of reasons as to why they will soon realize that going away to school was the best decision of their lives thus far.
1. The FREEDOM.
College is a place in which you are given almost full responsibility for yourself. Everything you do will be a product of your own decisions. And while that might sound intimidating, which it can be at times, it is absolutely wonderful. You want to eat Nutella out of the jar on your white sheets? DO IT. You want to run around the quad singing the Remix to Ignition at 4 A.M. on a Tuesday night because it liberates your soul? Go for it. For the first time in your life, there are no curfews. There are no moms, and there are no dads. It's like a giant sleep-a-way camp. Another great aspect of all the freedom, is that you truly begin to feel yourself start growing up a little bit, which may sound lame, but it's a pretty cool knowing that your are able to handle yourself on your own.
2. The PEOPLE.
I don't know about any of you, but my high school was full of drama and immaturity, and somehow I always found myself involved in it, no matter how hard I tried to stay out of it. It wasn't a Monday night unless there was a bitter school-wide Twitter fight over last weekend's party drama. The guys judged girls like they were pieces of meat, and the girls too much better to the guys. My favorite part of college so far was getting away from a school full of immature, superficial values and being in a place full of intellectual, and genuine people.
I have met some of the closest friends I have ever had in my life just within the first two months of freshman year. I walk around my campus free from wondering if my every move was being judged or picked apart by my peers. I have never felt more comfortable with a group of people in my life. Everyone is really unique and colorful and respect others the way they would like to be respected.
3. The PARTIES.
College, as you all probably know, is an entirely different ballgame. You will never be forced to sit in your dorm on a Friday night because there is nothing (ever) going on in your town. In college, there is always something going on. There are athlete parties, greek parties, club parties, and never a dull weekend moment. College provides you with endless social opportunities and encourages you to branch out and experience new groups of people.
4. The BREAKS.
In high school, Spring Break meant either going away with my family and/or a friend, or sitting home waiting for something exciting to happen, which it never really did. But in college, you will be handed a whole new, exciting set of options. There are so many places that hold events and provide packages for college spring breaks, places like Miami, Panama City, etc. It's so easy to get a group of people together and plan a trip that fits everyone's budget.
5. The CLASSES.
College, especially if you are at a liberal arts school, provides you with the most interesting and engaging courses. Unlike high school, where you are usually taught the bare minimum that is required, college courses range from broad topics, to specialized topics that illustrate a single idea in great detail. For instance, this semester, I am taking a course that specializes in the study of primate behavior and a course in white water rafting. I once read an article about a school that offers a one-credit course that focuses solely on the fundamentals of Harry Potter. College is the place where you can find a course for almost anything you are interested in and allows you to expand your academic horizons and try/study new things.
6. The HANGOUT SPOTS.
Every college has places on campus that people go to to hangout, eat with their friends, or study together. These are the places where I grew closer and closer with my friends. I have met so many of my friends in freshman dorm lounges, the library, coffee shops, and on campus dining halls. They provide comfort on campus and a sense of belonging.
7. The TRADITIONS.
Every college has its traditions. My school, for instance, was founded in 1693, which means it's full of traditions that date back even before the establishment of union or the United States. But even for the newer schools, each college owns their own unique traditions that help students identify more closely with their school and fellow classmates. It creates an increased sense of "togetherness" that is one of the main reasons why colleges sometimes refer to their students/staff as a family.
8. The SPIRIT.
This one kind of goes along with number seven. Another favorite part of college for me is the school spirit. Some of my best memories so far involved me getting decked out in school colors and enjoying a beautiful fall day tailgating for Homecoming or some other school event. If your school is big on sports, it only makes it even better.
9. The HOLIDAYS.
Holidays are so much more fun when you're in college. Halloween will only get better, Thanksgivings at home will become more meaningful and you will no longer have to answer your family's never ending questions about where you want to go to school, and the Christmas/Holiday season happiness will truly help you get through finals. Freshman year I remember decorating my dorm with tons of Christmas decorations and watching Christmas movies with my hall, and having a hall Secret Santa.
10. EVERYTHING ELSE.
If you go into college with a positive, open mind, everything will be a reason as to why going away to school is the best thing to ever happen to you. They're not kidding when they say it's the best four years of your life. Don't spend those years feeling nervous or stressed about going away. Spend them enjoying every moment, and stopping every once in a while to take it all in and realize that you are in a place of opportunity. You get out of college what you put into it. If you want a positive experience, think of it in a positive light. There is nothing to be afraid of!
