College Pt. 1

I have less than a week left at a place I really didn't want to be in the beginning. I remember late August just sitting in my almost empty room just thinking well... I have to do it. No point in crying because it's happening. I packed my last few things in the car, said goodbye to my brother and my dogs, and left. Six hours of wondering what the hell would happen to me. Six hours of being scared. Six hours of being excited. Six hours of the unknown. Never would I have imagined so many important lessons would come out of nine months of being away from home.

When I first got to school, I automatically was thinking, "I need to leave. I need to transfer. I need to go home". I didn't think I was homesick or anything, I just didn't want to be where I was. I was terrified of making friends, I never went out to meet new people, I just stayed in my room most of the time on my laptop. Thankfully I have the best roommate ever and she finally got me out to meet people. We left our door open and people that have become my best friends have walked in to come and meet me, and some people I never want to see again have done the same.

I never in my life thought I'd make friends out of my friend group back home. I thought they'd never stick by me and they'd only really be acquaintances. I thought completely wrong. My friends in college have really become my family, for real. I'm with them 24/7, we eat, hang out together, study together, fail together, succeed together... you get the point. They have helped me COUNTLESS times when I needed it. I don't think I even deserved it. I have always loved being by myself but after attending college, I never want to be alone. I will go on a 10 minute car ride to Dunkin' and back with any of them if it means I get to spend time with them. No matter what, they will always be my friends and that will never change.

Aside from seeing them all the time and loving it may I add, there are disadvantages to dorm living. You see people you don't necessarily want to see, you have to wear shoes like all the time because you're scared of some sort of foot fungus, and the smell of weed lingers with a mix of $3 cologne to try to mask it but only makes it worse. Also, whatever damages there are to the building... everyone is paying for it. And that happens a lot.

College is fun and all but you have to remember you're paying a BITCH load of money. Like, a lot. So when you get here, focus maybe a fraction of your time studying and actually doing work. You aren't coming here just to blackout everyday. Once and a while, ok, but not everyday...

There will be days when you feel alone and you feel like dropping out (maybe more than usual), but those days have to happen for you to be able to feel those days that you'll always remember and want to relive forever. Join clubs, do intramural sports, even join a frat or sorority. Guarantee there will be more good days than bad.

Even though it's Maine, I've learned the culture pretty quickly even though you may think there isn't much of a difference here than Vermont. Let me tell you, there it. Half of my friends live here and I've seen some beautiful places and learned some pretty funny lingo that I'll probably use for the rest of my life. Since I've traveled six hours to get here, traveling an hour and half to two hours is absolutely nothing to me and whenever we want to go somewhere that is about that far, I'm always down to go.

I don't want to make this post long and sappy so I'll end it here. I'm glad I stayed and I'm thankful for the awesome people I've met and the experiences I've had, good and bad. I'll miss my friends who are leaving, but I'll see you this summer in Boston and I wish you luck on everything in your future because you guys deserve the best the world has to offer. And to my friends who are staying, I'll see you next year and I cannot wait. And I'll probably see you this summer too I guess... :)

I've changed for the better here and I thank everyone who has been with me through it all. Thanks for sticking around.