If you went to college, your attachment could range from "never going back" to "please give me one more chance." I am somewhere in the middle. Once the current students that I routinely talk to graduate, and believe me you know who you are, I'll come back at most twice a year to visit with other alumni who are visiting.
This past weekend, I went back to visit because it was my sorority little's Senior Recital. I had been back a few times previous to this visit. But at this point, I have almost been gone a year. And after you've been gone a year, you tend to notice things that you had not the first or second time that you went back. So here they are, as told by Mean Girls memes.
1. When people have no idea who you even are.
You pass a lot of people that probably do not even pay you any attention. The ones that do happen to glance at you are like "who's this chick? I've never seen her before. Eh, I really don't care." They try to decide if you are one of the administrative people or online students they hear so much about but never actually see. That is until one of your sorority sisters screams your name in the rotunda because she's so excited to see you again. Then everyone is wondering what a Mama Erin is.
2. It's like they speak another language.
You really have not been gone that long in the grand scheme of things, but suddenly there are all of these stories and names and places that you have never heard before. You try to relate to your postgraduate stories, but everything turns into a "you had to be there" story.3. Speaking of new names...
When you go back for your visit, you find out that A LOT of people left. And I don't mean students. I mean the entire student involvement office, except for two people. They're talking about so and so running this program, and so and so who got moved to the residence life department. You had no idea of the mass exodus of people you will likely never see again, and the names of their replacements mean nothing to you.4. Everything is new and shiny since you left.
If you go to my alma mater, you know exactly the changes I'm talking about. Suddenly the dining hall is redecorated and all of the furniture is replaced. (Except they took away the fun wheely chairs that were in the hallway. I'm not good with that.) The tile has been polished in the lobby of the classroom buildings, so much so that you can actually see the school crest for the first time. The once dull green dome is now close to wicked witch green. The pretty carpet was put down in the hallway to the one coffee shop, like a red carpet beckoning to you. I'm not bitter or anything. But they took my wheely chairs...5. You want to eat and drink like you used to.
It is amazing the difference in your tolerance for food and alcohol when you are not surrounded by junk food and cheap booze. I get full faster than I EVER did when I was in college. Why? Portion control. Which is good 90% of the time. Then someone asks you to go to the Mexican bar in town or do a Chipotle and Kiwi run. If you don't know what Kiwi is, SHAME!
All in all, you are both extremely sad and extremely happy that you are just a visitor. My old co-workers asked me if I missed being a student and want to come back. Wanna know my answer? You can keep your school work, but I'll take the socialization and exciting adventures. Cause going on adventures post-graduation costs money you do not have, and requires planning way in advance.
Just remember, you always run the risk of hearing this as you depart. Or maybe as you arrive, depending on the person.
