The College Years

What I love about this park is that there is a waterfall, but it's kind of like it's hidden. When you pull up to the parking lot, it just looks like a normal place with hiking trails and a bunch of trees. But if you go down this staircase carved out of the hill, it leads to this big waterfall with a little wading area. It's perfect for hot days when you just want to cool off. This day was particularly hot and humid, so the cool water was really welcoming. I took my shoes off and dipped them right into the water. Another great part about the waterfall is that there are rocks that you can climb up to get right into the waterfall if you wanted to. People come in their bathing suits all the time and just sit right in the waterfall under the water!

Onesie: Forever 21//Shorts: H&M

A few posts ago, I wrote a little about my high school experience and how I really enjoyed it. So today I thought I'd write a little bit about college. I guess you could say that I didn't have the "typical" college experience. I only lived on campus for one year, and then I switched schools and moved back home because I was switching my major and secretly, I wanted to be closer to my then boyfriend. Plus it was cheaper to live home and commute to school since we didn't have to pay room and board and meal plans. When I did live on campus, I wasn't a wild partyer or anything. I didn't even really drink until I was about 19 or 20, which seems kind of old now that kids are starting to drink as early as 13. I enjoyed being on my own, but I also felt a little lost in what I wanted to pursue for the remainder of my four years in college.

I wasn't the kind of person who was particularly involved with my school. I didn't go to school events like sports games or dances. I didn't participate in any extracurricular activities or clubs. I did try out for theater one time, but I unfortunately didn't make it. For me, when I was done with my classes for the day, it meant I was done being on campus. I didn't hang around, which meant I didn't really meet a lot of people. They say that college is where you meet the best friends that you will have for the rest of your life. Well...I met one person in college that I would consider to be that (What up, Nadia!). While I didn't meet many new best friends at college, it was during my college years that I rekindled some old friendships and associations that led to really meaningful and lasting friendships. When my boyfriend at the time broke up with me, that's when I really became close to Sarah who has now been one of my best friends for about three and a half years now. And it's somewhat because of her and another friend of mine that I had met Chris. It's chain of events like this that really make me believe that everything happens for a reason. My college years are where I learned this and it's also where I really started to come into who I am. I'm not done growing, but I'd say these were the years where I've done the most growing so far. I learned to be more open-minded, more laid back and not to let so many things get to me, and to do what's right for me, not live my life for others.

Even though I lived home during college, I would say that I still got to experience a lot of what college is all about. I've let go of old friendships and found and kept the ones that matter, the ones that are strong and good. I learned a lot about myself and about people. I learned balance, compromise, and how to be more independent. I learned my limits, my strengths and weaknesses. And yes, I've partied. Even though I loved high school and I miss it dearly, I'd still say that my college years and this time in my life right now were the best years of my life, thus far. Most, if not all, of my proudest accomplishments so far occurred during this time in my life. Planning and taking a road trip to Florida, buying a car for the first time, graduating college, going on vacation and taking a plane without my parents for the first time (and coming back alive). High school was great because there were less responsibilities and worries, but there is nothing like being a young independent adult with the world at your feet and the satisfaction that when you accomplish something, it's because you alone made it happen. So many choices and opportunities lie ahead and of course it's terrifying, but it's also a little exciting. I look forward to what the future holds and where the next "stage" of my life will take me.