We participate with the world and we do it while looking exceptional. We spend every day of our lives constructing and maintaining an identity of a certain type of a person we might not even be close enough to. This is something that I constantly experienced during my time at high school, which made it so hard for me to feel that sense of belonging. As every day would pass by, I'd tell myself how I'm getting closer and closer to the day I'd graduate from school. The greatest thing had happened to me in a blink of an eye, I was so happy that I made it through all my rough days at school, and now I don't have to wake up every morning to show up at a place where I don't belong. Not only was I glad that school was over for me, but I was also heading towards my very first step in terms of my life long career, moving for college.

After school was over, when people were packing their bags and catching a flight for college, I was the one who was still trying to figure things out. Well, it sucks to be the person who's left behind and is still trying to connect the dots when everyone around you already knows what they want. Most of my conversations everyday revolved around my plans for college, whether they be with friends, family or people I meet with in ages. For a while I blamed the universe for being so unorganized and random for the stress I dealt with on a regular basis. So all my time at high school was worth not being on time for my first semester at college? It took me innumerable arguments with my mother, several broken bonds and relationships, countless days just laying in bed to acknowledge the good that came along with the unwanted experiences.

Today when I'm far away from home, I am so thankful for the experience and for the opportunity my parents gave me to learn how to make the choices that have made me become the person I am. (I love you, Mom and Dad!) When I think about my transition from high school to college, I know it was not an easy one, but I finally understand that although I did tend to take a little more time, it does not make me less capable than the ones who made it happen before I did. Something that makes this experience everlasting is the fact that I had the chance to sip perfect English tea while traveling to Britain and hold conversations with guys who have strong British accents over then, summer last year. Being able to spend some quality time with family and friends while stuffing ourselves up with the best traditional dishes, I appreciate the time invested in the decisions that completely out-shined my capabilities and strengths during my very first semester at college. Today I know I'm "college material" because I have made great friends, performed outstandingly in all my classes and have made myself responsible of the time abroad here at Rollins.