Looking back - Part I

I have been thinking a lot about what it was like to transition from high school into my college years. I remember being sooo excited to leave home for the first time-- to get a sense of independence and to try and accomplish something big on my own. I remember driving through the mountains of North Idaho on my way to San Diego. The car was wayyyyy to full of things, things... things that I would later find out I didn't need in order to start my life at my new school.

I recall how nervous I was to meet my roommate for the first time. Would she be nice? Would we get along? Would she think I was a total dweeb? It didn't take long for Cassie and I to open up to each other and find a friendship.

Saying goodbye to everything that was familiar wasn't a hard thing for me to do until my sister and my mom got back in the car to drive home-- without me. That's when reality began to set in a little stronger than before. But I learned from that moment as well: no matter how much you try and anticipate change, no matter how much you try and prepare for it, thoughts and emotions you could not have conceived ahead of time will come. In those moments, you have to let these new thoughts and feelings sweep you off of your feet and teach you something new about yourself.