A year in retrospect.
This year has been a crazy one. This time last year, I had just graduated from high school, my worries lifted off my shoulders, and I was actually on a cruise ship, thanks to my parent’s graduation/birthday present. On the day of my birthday, we were in Haiti, floating on a raft while sunbathing, in the ocean, which was clear as tap water and it was simply gorgeous.
But I digress.
The point I wanted to make with this blog post was to essentially chronicle what I have learned from my first year of college. I have made friends, I have lost friends. I have loved, and I have lost. I have grown as a person, but very carefully, and I will explain what I mean by that in a second.
It’s a rather odd experience to grow up. It’s even more odd when you realize that you’ve grown and changed for the better, without anyone telling you so. Before I began college, I made a promise to myself. I promised that I would become a person who was more outgoing, but I would still keep my wits, intuition, inner child, and just overall likable personality. I also wanted to discover who I was, something that I was apparently supposed to do in high school, but never really felt like I got the chance.
And this is exactly what I did. I got my license, I got a job, I bought a car, and then I began school. I am not a vain person and don’t like to talk about myself too much, but I’m going to brag for a minute. This quarter, I’m getting straight A’s, while maintaining my friendships/relationships with friends and family, and being a great employee at my job. I feel more mature than I ever have, and it feels good; it also feels nice to be partially independent. I don’t feel good because I’m handling responsibilities well, but rather because I am doing so while still being a fun, happy, nice PERSON. The reason I capitalized “person”? Because part of the promise I made to myself before college was that I would never allow myself to become a drone of the work force. I would grow up, but only to the respect that I would be able to handle responsibilities well and take care of myself. My emotions, my likes and dislikes, my human characteristics, and my desire to consider my friends and family before other things, is what makes me different from some people. I’m a PERSON, not a robot, not a drone. And I am proud of that.
I have stopped talking to some people I considered “great friends” back in high school. I will instigate a conversation with some people here or there, but if they don’t care to put forth the effort to maintain a friendship, then it’s their loss. Why make someone your priority if you aren’t theirs? I have asked myself that last question and learned to live by it.
There is one person in particular that has made me grow the most among all other people involved in my life. I will not name them, but I’m pretty sure they know who they are if they decide to read this. They have taught me many painful life lessons… some good, some bad, but all necessary. I hope to stay best friends with them, but only time will tell, and I guess we will see.
I have made many friends here at SCAD, as well, and it’s a different kind of friendship. I don’t think I can put it into words, but it just seems more… “real”. If you guys are reading this, and you all know who you are as well, you truly mean the world to me and have made my first year of college not only bearable, but also enjoyable. Through the pains of deadlines, bitchy teachers, asshole people, crazy projects, and everything… I simply feel blessed to have you guys in my life.
If I could give advice to rising college freshmen, it would be this:
1) Accept change, don’t deny it. This time in your life only happens once, so enjoy it.
2) Don’t be reckless with people’s hearts, and don’t let other people be reckless with your heart. (And yes, I totally stole that from the Wear Sunscreen speech… for that matter, Google or Youtube “Wear Sunscreen speech” and read it. It’s worth it.)
3) People aren’t going to give you things anymore. This is a Eat or Be Eaten world, and if you want something, go out there and take it. You can get anything you want if you put your mind to obtaining it. If you want a job or internship, work your ass off and get it. If you want that girl or guy you’ve had your eyes on, stop being a coward and ask them if they want to go grab dinner sometime. Grab life.
“But trust me on the sunscreen.” 
