A year away from home ...

Perhaps the most exciting part about going to college is moving away from home. At least from my perspective, it’s a great feeling to leave the bird’s nest after years of being in the same environment with the same people. Independence is indeed something that I’ve savored throughout my first year in college. As a college student, I now had the authority to make my own decisions, whether or not they would lead to disastrous consequences, without having to worry much about my parents’ opinions. (That isn’t to say that I would ignore my parents’ words, rather that I was encouraged to make important decisions on my own) Most of the time, this didn’t bode well for me, for I was (and still am) known to be very indecisive. Even in high school, I found that others tended to make decisions for me, simply because I lacked a precise sense of direction. It is no surprise, hence, that in college, I’ve entertained the possibilities of studying subjects that run the gamut from Ancient Greek Literature to Neuroscience!

I was already aware of my obsessively indecisive nature, but college seemed to make it more evident. What made it worse was the fact that I didn’t have my parents to constantly advise me about each life-altering decision I would make, even though they’re always just a phone call away. Yes, I admit that although I’d acknowledge what my parents would have to say, at times I wouldn’t attempt to genuinely understand their perspective. It’s only when I came to college that I became more thankful for the wealth of advice they gave me over the years. In different ways, I was able to make more sense out of reality throughout my year away from home. I learned that in order to survive in a large, competitive environment, I would have to actively pursue my goals in life, rather than relying on others and on being ‘spoon-fed’. I learned the importance of taking care of and being true to oneself, whether it is regarding health or emotional being. I learned that the friends you make in college are the ones who truly shape the college experience, aside from the endless studying and sleepless nights that accompany college. Indeed, I never knew I'd learn so much just from a year away from home!