You spend most of high school working toward it, all of senior year stressing about it, and all of summer wondering if you’ll actually get to move in day and sometimes questioning if you want move in day to come.
By some miracle, move in day comes and goes and suddenly you’re on your own in a new town, new school, with new friends, and a lifestyle you’ve never lived before.
Welcome to College
If you know me or have read any other blog post of mine, you know I’m *learning* not to hate change. I wouldn’t say I’ve hated the change of going to college, but it isn’t the most comfortable thing in the world.
I made it to move in day. Got all the stuff to the room, rearranged furniture, and began unpacking. Said bye to the parents through some tears and then kept unpacking.
First morning, Leah had already texted me when I woke up. I cried on the phone when she called to pray for me. Not because I didn’t think I could do it, but because college is just so different, very new, and unsure (and because I 1. Don’t know what I did to deserve Leah and 2. Desperately wish Leah was here). She reminded me to lean on the Lord and told me I’d learn that no matter where I am whether its here, home, or in China, that God is with me. I’ve been leaning into that a lot.
I was holding back tears the ENTIRE time I was on the phone with Kreech on Friday. We were talking about the lightest possible stuff like Anu (her sweet, but also bratty, cat). It was the realization that we are really doing this long- distance thing now after 3 years of hanging out weekly that started to hit me.
The first few days we had slow mornings and crazy nights. The school and every other club has welcome week activities at night. My roommate, Ashley, and I met some friends and we ended up going to activities together. Nights were for sure the best time, the time I felt most at home and like I could do this thing for a while. I’ve met a million people, forgotten a lot of names, and if I had a dollar for every time I stated where I’m from and my major- I could probably drop out of college and live off that money.
Day One of classes came and thank goodness it did. Everyone was eager for more of a routine, even for some work to do. Classes weren’t too hard to find because Ashley and I had walked to all our buildings a few days prior. It was fun to wake up and see everyone going somewhere and campus moving the way it should.
The first few days at school seem like a blur now, but I had many times of questioning who the heck came up with the idea of putting leaving home and higher education together. I called my sister and while I don’t envy her having to sit in one building for 7 hours (sorry high schoolers), I realized it’s nice to start a school year and be in your comfort zone. As cheesy and cliche as it is, I told Anna to enjoy that while she has it because so soon you’ll be moving into college.
I noticed I’m not worried about not knowing anyone in classes or having people to always eat meals with. I have the move to Westfield to thank for that. The college social scene is so much less cliquey and everyone is pretty nice- so if you’re in high school and stuck with a bad friend group, for sure look forward to college.
During this first week, I had to remind myself to take everything on social media with a grain of salt. People post the good stuff, not the tears or anxiousness.And people post whether they are having a great time or not, and I can’t judge because I honestly do the same.
Sitting in class (so far) feels like sitting in any other class. I’m not too worried, they were right when they said AP classes and Fairfax County prepares you for college. One of my professors did ask the class if anyone was from his high school, when one kid raised his hand, the professor told him the high school was awful and that the kid was behind pretty much everyone in the class. That’s one reason to be thankful for nova.
With calling and FaceTiming people, home doesn’t feel too far away. I know it will sometimes. I’ve been checking out the ministries and Young Life for sure feels the most comfortable. And while I love Young Life, it’s weird walking into a community that isn’t mine. I realized just how close I am to my people in Centreville, that’s been hard.
The thing about change is that the only way to get through it is to just do it. Full sends. I know I’ll have more anxious mornings, more phone calls that make me tear up, and more unknown ahead. But I’m thankful I’m where I’m supposed to be, at the best college in Virginia (@marin @hannah).
Despite the growing pains, Blacksburg has already been more than I hoped it’d be, and I only got here a week ago. 🙂
But He said to me,
“My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Now I actually have to do homework and attempt to snap out of summer mode. Send snacks and coffee plz.
Gracie Girl Blog 