I’m the only College Kid who doesn’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow

I know, even as many of you read that title, you thought to yourself “Hold on, I TOTALLY feel the same way!” Wanna know why? Because EVERY COLLEGE KID IS TOTALLY CONFUSED 95% OF THE TIME!

From K-12, I have been prepped, pushed and even harassed about “being ready for college.” There was never, EVER the notion that college wasn’t going to happen. Only the big and prophetic “WHEN.”

But here, my friends, lies the catch. Not a single person prepared me for when I would be in college. Oh, sure… I can write an essay, all-nighters are nothing if not normal to me. I can do math, chem labs, cram for a midterm and I know how to do research like I know how to breathe. But that isn’t the whole picture.

We get here, ready to learn. In some cases ready to get liver failure or earn our MRS degree. But my first semester in college, all I heard from every single person I knew was “I don’t have any friends here…” “Why in the hell did I schedule so many 8am classes, it’s way too much?” and even the occasional “I think I’m meant to be at another college…”

To anyone reading this in college, you’re so not alone. As cliché as that statement sounds, I am not lying. From Indiana to Texas, California to New Jersey, Colorado to Arkansas, everyone is struggling at different points. One minute you feel like you’ve finally figured it out. Joined a good group, met some people you like and maybe discovered you and your roomie could be great friends. And then, like a speeding train slamming into a stalled car on the tracks, everything turns explosive and chaotic. Those friends were not what you thought, your grades are harder to maintain and your roomie keeps his/her dirty laundry everywhere. (side note: I ADORE my roomie. You’re the best Robby)

No matter how many times you think you’ve got it figured out, you don’t. After trying and failing to figure out when I was going to be able to pull it all together and have that Hollywood-esqe, happy ending college experience, I heard a gem of advice I want to share.

We've prepared all our lives for college. College is preparing us for all our life.

As cringe-inducing and horrifyingly cliché as it is, I said it. Well, typed it. Because it is entirely true. These insane roller coasters of highs and lows are meant to teach us about what’s waiting for us off campus.

It’s how we deal with these issues that shape how we’ll handle the bigger and scarier trials of tomorrow.

With that in mind, I’m going to try and face my History exam with a smiling face, and a happy heart. It won’t be the end of the world if I do terribly. The situations I face are going to be met by a strong, fearless and entirely optimistic B.

I know you’ll do the same.

Best of luck this week. I hope you all manage it with a smile and a kick-ass, take no prisoner attitude.

End Note: To those of you still in high school: College is awesome amounts of fun and horrendously terrifying. Get excited and know that you’ve made it this far. You’re indestructible.