Not That Hard...Really

 

Feb. 15, 2009  Kate Bristol       Freshman

Before actually leaving for college, you think you're all set, and you'll never be homesick, and everything will be peachy and you'll be the most successful person ever, in a new life, far away. At least, this is what I imagined. I left Texas for New York, not so much starry-eyed as I was grateful to be forging a new life for myself in a city where I knew things would be hard. Although, there are quite a few things I didn't consider about college life that I'd like to share with other incoming Pacers.

1. Being sick at home is way more fun than being sick at school. Being sick at home means your parents, who generally care for your well-being, will help you out. They might even bring you soup. Being sick at school means you have to call the nearby hospital for an appointment, call the insurance company to cover it, drag yourself through the cold weather to the hospital on William Street and pick up the prescriptions yourself. It's tough. I guess this made me stronger— it certainly made me try to be actively healthy and avoid illness at all costs! (Note to self: carry around hand sanitizer.)

2. I really miss having pets. The fish-in-a-bowl-only rule gives little leeway and doesn't amount to having a big shaggy dog greet you when you come home or waking up with a cat pawing your face. Family pets back home used to give us such emotional support. Now we have roommates and packets of Ramen. The important thing is that even though we may not be able to have our own pets, there are plenty of dog-walkers in the school's surrounding area at any given time (it's actually a very pretty neighborhood in some places!) and I've become notorious for asking people if I can pet their dogs.

3. I took my parents' kitchen and cooking supplies for granted. Now when I want to bake something, I'm reminded that both Maria's Tower and John St. are completely without ovens. Also, cooking ingredients require a lot of space— olive oil, baking soda, flour, eggs, and the like— space that we as college students definitely don't have. That's why there's a cafeteria, I suppose. So use up that meal card!

4. ATTENTION FRESHMAN: We have a LOT of money on those meal cards our first year, as required by the university. If you can't eat everything on the meal card, around holidays they always sell a lot of big packages with chocolate covered pretzels or truffles and the like, even pumpkin pies right before the major breaks. Also, you may know a starving upperclassman. Be kind to them and give them some food.

5. What's the rush to get home? Both of my roommates (and most of my friends) go home nearly every weekend and stay with their families. It can get lonely for the people who are unable to do that. Staying at school shows your independence, and you can get a lot done with some 'alone' time: reading, cleaning, getting some studying done, exploring Manhattan... (yeah yeah, if you'd really rather see your high school friends and your XBox 360, fine, go for it.)

So those are just some of my thoughts as I wrap up my first semester, and I know I'm bound to learn more things. Stay healthy and enjoy New York, everyone.

-Kate