On the first day of freshman orientation, the dean of our college warned us that, “If you think high school went fast, just wait and see how fast your college years go by.”
Well at least that’s what my mom told me he said. By that point I had pretty much zoned out and was thinking about how much stuff I had to unpack and what kind of small talk I could start with my roommate. What did it matter to me all this sentimental talk about time going to fast and enjoying it while I can and blah, blah, blah. I was only a freshman – there was still so much time left!
This time next year…that will be me.
And yet, here I am, at the end of my junior year and I can’t help but think oh crap, they’re right. And with that revelation, the underlying fear that I, in fact, will have to become a grown up.
I have plenty reason to be frightened of this idea. One, because I don’t know how to behave in public without firmly reminding myself to put on my “you’re among people you don’t know don’t act weird filter” on. Two, because I am very bad at “getting to know you” chit chat with people I don’t know and the string of words that often come out of my mouth are that of a rambling lunatic (you may get that impression from this blog post as well).
And finally, because being a kid is just so much fun.
But alas, the real world is upon me and despite my fears, I’m actually pretty excited. I tend to fear and avoid change like the plague, but when I think back all of the good things that ever happened to me was because of a change that happened in my life.
So all of you graduating seniors and juniors who are about to embark on your last year of high school, I offer you this advice because you’re reading this anyway and you might as well get something out of it: don’t be afraid of change (or becoming a grown-up!)
Yeah, it’s scary to think about what might come next but when you look back, you’ll wonder how you had ever been afraid in the first place.
Now that my sentimental rant is over, I bid you until next time,
Laura (the Not Anymore Intern)
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