After finally receiving an acceptance letter from my top choice college, I have begun to fantasize about the turn my life will take.
I’ll be in California. It’ll be pleasant all year round, as opposed to the freak weather of Minnesota. I’ll be in the midst of booming people on the verge of self-discovery. And they music venues will be absolutely amazing (which is one of the key things that I, as a music junkie and wanna-be music journalist, fantasize about more than anything). It’s all part of my big life plan. It’s exactly what I wanted and I wouldn’t change my mind now for anything.
Still, one thing has begun to gnaw at my mind. My mother.
She has always been incredibly supportive of anything and everything I do. She was thrilled that I got the college I wanted most. She was also, however, extremely freaked out by the thought of me being more than 2,000 miles away from her. She started her motherly squabbling as soon as she realized how far away I would be.
“You don’t know how to cook. You’ll live off of ramen. By the time I see you again, you’ll have lost two times more weight than other freshman gain.”
And my absolute favorite, “You’re going to show up at Christmas with a truckload of dirty laundry.”
I don’t take much of what she says seriously. I can sustain myself while I live in the dorms. I know that. What I’ve suddenly started worrying about it how I will handle being so far away from everything I’ve ever known. I’ll be leaving behind all of my friends. My favorite haunts will be abandoned. My mom will be too far away to hug or to comfort me when I just can’t help crying.
I’ve always been surrounded by people who believe in me and have faith that I will achieve my goals. I’ve never been truly alone in all of my life. I’m worried that, while I’m confident now, I’ll feel alone, frightened and completely unsure of myself by the time I get to California.
I’m feeling an odd mixture of emotions. I cannot decide between nervousness and excitement. I guess only time will tell how I handle a new life and a new situation. I take comfort in the fact that I know I can’t be the only high school senior feeling this way. And the fact that, even if my family is far away, I can always talk to them.
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