“Wait until I’m 18; I’ll be outta here!”
Whenever I used to get into an argument with my mom it wasn’t uncommon for me to tell her those exact words and the same holds true for a lot of high school students. But the truth is that I’m not even 18 yet; I’m 17 and tonight I’ll catch a red eye flight to Boston. From there, I’ll wait to board the Dartmouth Coach which will take me to my new home, Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Whoopee. Don’t get me wrong; I am excited for the new people and experiences that await me, but having my mom cry about me “leaving the nest” is not pleasant and I’m not sure how thousands of freshman do it each year, especially those who are the first in their family to attend college.
So, if you find yourself not being able to console your mom or anybody else afraid of letting you go out into the world alone, start by reassuring them that this new beginning doesn’t mean that you’ll forget about those who helped you get there in the first place. Cell phones, Skype, Pictures, AIM, Facebook, etc. there are tons of ways to keep in touch; try to find one that best works for you and your loved ones. I bought my mom a webcam and now she can’t wait for me to tell her about my first day on campus.
I’ve packed up all my things but it probably won’t sink in until I’m 10,000 feet in the air. Remember, college isn’t a complete good-bye, more of a “see you later”. Have fun and make the most of it!