What is College?

1A:

If you were to look up what the word “college” means in the dictionary, it would say, “an educational institution or establishment (Webster Dictionary).” However, when I think of what college means, I think of growing into an adult, being independent, being responsible, making lifelong friends, all while focusing on getting that degree. 

            From the time I can remember, college was always in my future.  It wasn’t something I always felt like I wanted to do, but it was something that was just assumed that I would. Over the past year I have had a mix of emotions, happy, excited, anxious, sad, and frustrated.  As move in day became closer and closer, I sort of became numb.  My friends would ask me how I was feeling and I really wasn’t feeling anything.  Not happy, not sad, nothing.  As I loaded up the car, said goodbye to my three brothers and dogs, it all hit me; I was going to college.  The thing that is supposed to happen after high school, the thing that everyone seems to love so much, the thing that is necessary in order to get a good job, it was really here, college. 

As my parents and I got to lot 9, I suddenly felt like everything I worked hard for all throughout high school finally paid off.  I was officially a college freshman.  I moved all my stuff in realizing that these next four years will determine the rest of my life.  I said my last goodbyes and off I went with some friends from high school to explore the campus.  I knew my parents weren’t going to be here to tell me to come get dinner or to go to bed, but I was excited. 

With new friends, I feel like I already changed. I am ready to be responsible and independent.  The only thing I have to worry about here is doing what is right for me.  College is the change that I desperately needed.