Posts Tagged ‘college’
The dream finally came true
Thursday, May 19th, 2011
I graduated high school at 17.
I was so ready to get out of there and move on and away. Do the reinvent yourself thing.
I didn’t much like who I was. At least, I didn’t much like who others thought I was.
My college dream involved going to Penn State – a huge, huge campus – and becoming what I knew I could be, away from the kids with whom I’d grown up. I would be popular. Fun. Pretty. And a boyfriend – surely, finally, I’d find a boy who liked me. Right?
But that pesky thing known as out-of-state tuition wasn’t happening for our family, who already had one in college and another through college and law school. So off to the state university I went, along with seemingly half our graduating class. And of course I was assigned to the particular set of dorms no one wanted to live in. Where I got to watch a cow give birth right from the hallway window.
It is also where I learned some essential truths:
1) You are who you are, there’s no faking it.
2) Drinking in high school was the best thing you did, considering the behavior of floormates who’d never touched a drop before arriving on campus. Lots of sloppiness ensued.
3) Having a roommate with the last name “Bash” did not mean life was going to be a party.
4) Consuming a case of beer each weekend is not so good for weight control.
5) I needed to find a fake ID pronto.
6) Insecurity must give off some sort of odor.
7) I was moving to the “fun” dorms as soon as the semester was over. Maybe I’d find my cool there.
8 ) You are who you are.
College wasn’t what I thought it’d be. I had some unbelievably good times and made some good friends – but none with whom I still keep in touch, other than Christmas cards.
I left with a degree, 25 extra pounds, still dateless, and with the vague feeling I’d missed out on something. Like there should’ve been MORE.
Then I started working. Two months after graduation I’d lost 30 pounds and got my first boyfriend.
I made friends. Real friends. Friends with whom I’m still close today, even though we’re separated by geography and, well, the business of life.
It took me many more years, and more boyfriends, and more jobs, and, well, MORE, before I found what I was looking for.
I am, finally, my true self.
Tags: college, I am still a dork, mama kat's writing workshop
Posted in Mama Kat's Writing Workshop | 85 Comments »
My Soundtrack
Friday, June 11th, 2010
I read Mama Kat’s prompts for her writer’s workshop this week and chose 30 things I vow to do this summer. But I also wanted to do her prompt about the soundtrack of my life.
We all have certain songs that transport us to specific moments. I mean, if I hear the Zoom theme song, suddenly I’m four and pretending I’m Edith and have a Boston accent. Or I hear Beyonce’s All the Single Ladies and it’s two years ago and I’m in a hotel room watching her video on TV – and Sage starts shaking it (in a CUTE way, I swear!).
Anybooty, these are the songs that stick me in a particular place in time. My soundtrack.
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Tags: Bruce Springsteen, college, high school, mama kat, music, soundtrack, wedding, writing workshop
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
