From my Freshman year of high school all the way until I went off to college I attended an all girls’ private Catholic school. I didn’t really realize how strange it would be to leave that kind of environment until I decided to go to a co-ed non-religious college, but man is it different!

1. Having to dress myself every morning

For four years of my life my wardrobe was precisely laid out for me. I could wear a blue or white polo with a pair of navy pants or a navy skirt. Those were the basic clothing choices I could make each day. Now that I’m in college, I actually have to make my own fashion choices and I have pretty much forgotten how to dress myself. Stripes and polka-dots go together, right?

2. We don’t pray before each class?

I’m still trying to get used to the fact that we don’t say a prayer before every class anymore. Like, has the class even started if we haven't said a “Hail Mary” before it?

3. Nun-Traffic

Going to an all girls’ school with a convent on the side of it produced a lot of “nun-traffic”. Meaning, that sometimes I was SUPER late to class because there was a nun with a cane trying to walk in front of me and this was actually a valid excuse to being late to class. Now what am I supposed to say if I’ve overslept!? The truth!?

4. Boys!

High school did not prepare me for the most terrifying part of college… boys! I mean, sure, once in a while we would have a dance with the all boys’ school in town, but that usually resulted in everyone awkwardly looking at one another while the teachers tried to get us to dance to “Hallelujah”.

5. Going to mass

Some Catholic schools are stricter than others, but mine only required us to attend a few masses each year, usually around Christmas and Easter time. I keep waiting for my college to force me to wear ashes and take communion, but then I remember I don’t go to a religious-based school anymore.

6. Being able to talk about ANYTHING

Going to an all girls’ school meant that I could stand up in the middle of class and announce that I needed a tampon and at least 5 girls would be able to give me one. If I did that now, I would be given the dirtiest looks on the planet and no one would talk to me ever again.

7. Cramps didn’t get you out of gym class

I know there isn’t required gym class at most colleges, but in high school a girl can usually say she was having some major issues down below in order to get out of running the mile. For us, the teacher usually told us to take an aspirin and get over it.

8. I have to wear a real bra now

In college, wearing a sports bra every day just doesn’t cut it anymore, but it’s also not socially acceptable to adjust your real bra in public either! I just can’t win!

9. Making absolutely sure I’m not going into the boys’ bathroom

At an all girls’ school, all of the bathrooms are girls’ bathrooms except for maybe one in the basement for male teachers, but now I actually have to pay attention to make sure I’m not walking into the wrong one.

10. Any male in the building was considered a sex-god

I knew girls who thought the male janitors and teachers were pretty hot, so it’s safe to say that going to an all girls’ school didn’t leave us with many choices.