Growing up — it’s all in the name of college

 

I never thought I would say this, but at the end of first semester, hopping on a plane to the freezing-cold East Coast seemed quite appealing. Despite the football games, late nights and new friends that made up my first semester freshman year experience, part of me longed for the familiarity of my former home. And so, as I rolled up to airport at 5 a.m. — the earliest I had woken up in six months — I felt oddly happy.

Somehow, I was still smiling as the chilly wind slapped me across the face upon arriving in Maryland. The I’m-so-happy-to-see-you honeymoon period lasted quite a while, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that most people hadn’t changed very much. But as my friends and I shared our first semester memories, I began to realize the divergences in experience and subtle personality shifts.

Just one year ago, we were finishing up college applications, proofreading the beloved/detested Common Application and rolling our eyes at the monotony of high school. Now, we are spread out across multiple states, opposite coasts and varying cities, towns, rural areas and time zones. Are we really the same people if we lead such different lives?

Despite the many perks of attending USC and living in Los Angeles, I sometimes find myself jealous of my friends who are elsewhere. Dining hall lobster nights and ten-person classes, which I have now experienced over Snapchat, are undeniably enviable. Of course, this notion goes both ways. People tell me all the time how great it must be to live in California. It really is, especially on those 70-degree January mornings.

Sometimes, however, I wonder what it would be like to attend a small liberal arts school in a rural town, or a large public university, neither of which I considered applying to while I was looking at schools. In my mind, I had a very specific idea of what I wanted my college experience to encompass: great school spirit, a variety of academic programs and plenty of things to do off campus. USC was, and is, a great match. I now realize and acknowledge that each of us will have our own separate college experiences, largely shaped by our respective schools and areas around us. We are connected by the familiarity of our hometown, including many endearing memories and some things we would probably like to forget.

I always dread the lull in the conversation when you realize that there isn’t much left to talk about. It’s at that point you realize how many memories you have created while away at school, and how many things you have yet to do before you all meet again. Most of my interactions ended with promises to visit or FaceTime, both of which are fabulous and things I enjoy. Yet, I’m also realistic. I geographically removed myself from my old friends, and with that comes consequences: I won’t see them nearly as much as they will see each other.

But that’s okay. I have to grow a little on my own now.

Megan Chun is a freshman majoring in environmental studies and political science. Her column, “A Day in the Life,” runs on Fridays every other week.