Thoughts on the future while waiting for college decisions
A lucky few of you reading this have already been accepted to your dream college, figured out how you’re going to pay for tuition, and maybe started planning how you’re going to move your entire Harry Potter book, movie, and merchandise collection to the East Coast. However, the majority of us have no clue where we are going to be at the end of the summer. Some of us haven’t even received decisions from schools yet. Most of us still have a lot of unanswered questions about what our futures will be like, or even where they will be. And second semester senior year certainly gives time for musing on these unanswered questions – so, here are some of my late-night (and in-class) ponderings on life next year:
What exactly IS winter? For those who want to go somewhere with seasons, we will have to figure this out. Besides the technicalities of how to drive in the rain (a skill Californians definitely need to improve on), there are other questions: how cold is cold? Will I get laughed at for shivering when it’s 60? What do I do if the power goes out? And the worst thing – it will be impossible to go surfing in December (not that I surf).
How do you pay taxes? Personally, I am ashamed about how little I know about money. I live off of Starbucks gift cards and the occasional babysitting money. If someone handed me a paycheck right now, I would have no clue what to do with it. Do people document those things? How much should I put towards savings, or groceries? Wait … I’ll have to pay for groceries …
Do I actually have to meet new people? Yes. I’m sure some of you are social butterflies, but I’m rather happy in my little bubble. What if everyone I meet already has a social group? What if my roommate doesn’t like Harry Potter?
What if I don’t get into Stanford? Well, I mean, it wouldn’t be the worst thing. But what if someone else is accepted, and I’m not? Am I secretly stupid? Do I really want to go to Stanford, anyways? *Cue rethinking entire life path*
What will it be like living outside of suburbia? I don’t know about you, but I am desperate to get out of NP. However, I am uncertain about how I would hold up in the city. On one hand, there will actually be things to do at 2 AM rather than write random online opinion articles. On the other, I’m terrified of tall buildings (and heights in general), not to mention other people. There will be a lot of people.
Will I ever see my life-long friends again? I mean, that is the meaning of “life-long”, but plane tickets are expensive. And next year, we’re going to be scattered over the entire country, possibly the entire globe. Usually, I shove this thought to the back of my mind. Yay for Skype!
Is the fabled Ramen Noodle diet a thing? My parents insist that Ramen Noodles, at less than a dollar a packet, will be the most affordable calorie-bang-for-your-buck during college. But, coupled with the “freshman fifteen”, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to live that Ramen lifestyle. Most dorms have an affordable cafeteria, right? But that food isn’t necessarily so healthy, either. Why is quinoa so expensive?!
These are just a few of many, many unanswered questions. But what’s given me the most peace is knowing that it would be impossible to know everything, and if I did, I’d probably just freak out more. Right now is the time to enjoy second semester senior year, and know (for better or worse) that soon nothing will ever be the same.
