"Are you excited to leave for college?"
I think every incoming first-year student hears this question about a million times before the embark on this new chapter of his/her life. I will admit, it gets annoying after a while.
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Yes, I'm thrilled, but also I'm scared out of my mind to be away from home, everything that is familiar and safe to me, and become placed in an environment that is daunting and unfamiliar.
Don't get me wrong, college is a wonderful experience, and I have enjoyed every second of it, but for the girl who is scared to leave her dog, or the boy that is going to miss throwing a football down his high school football field, here are some things that people don't exactly tell you when trying to get you to continue your education.
You're gonna be busy, maybe busier than you have ever been. People aren't lying when they say that for every hour you are in class, you are going to spend double that amount of time on schoolwork. Throw in leadership positions for extracurriculars, a job perhaps, volunteering opportunities, and a hobby or two, and there is barely a minute in the day where you aren't utilizing your time wisely. Most of the time you're running off barely any sleep and this can lead to you getting sick. I've spent a lot of my time at college being sick or perpetually tired, but I wouldn't change a second of my experience because I am doing things I love.
You're going to miss a lot of things that you never thought you would. The main things are obvious - your family, your pet, your friends from home. But you miss the restaurants you frequented, the warming smell of your house, your bed, your car, just the familiarity of your hometown. Going home is always a great experience (at least in my eyes) and it fills a little void in your heart that goes missing every time you leave. Remember to cherish everything about being home before you leave, especially if you are going to a school that is particularly far away.
People aren't always going to be nice to you. Where I go to school, most people are very nice,and it's a reason why I came to the university that I currently attend. But sometimes, you make mistakes, you may anger people for just being you, and you're going to have to live with that. I have become a much stronger and independent person since I have been in college. The sun may not always be shining, but at the end of the day, if you are happy, that is all that matters.
Friends come and go. Granted, I have made some very good friends at college, but sometimes, you are friends with someone one day, and then when you really need them, they are gone. Your friends from home and your family are there for you no matter what. It may hit you hard at first, but in the long run, you are going to know who is really there for you and who is not, and for that, I am grateful.
I love college. I love Butler University. At some points, college is everything I hoped for, and at other times, it surprises me, but it's better to be surprised than bored, am I right?
