A Story About College Essay, Research Paper

A Story about College

Leaving from home and exploring ones own dreams are a very

important part of maturing. Though, the physical separation from

home is for some a difficult transition to college life. What are those

things one takes for granted while living at home, and attending high

school? What changes does one face upon entering college?

Just think of all the times the alarm clock did not go off, and mom

was there to make sure school was still reached on time. When the

alarm clock fails to go off at college, then the first class of the day is

simply missed. At home breakfast is made to order: eggs, bacon,

pancakes, or even French toast. In college one finds a particular meal

that is edible, and must stick with it. A cabinet could be opened at

home and a variety of tasty foods are readily available. In college a

meal card is swiped though a machine upon entering the cafeteria,

and the word “tasty” rarely enters the mind. Mom is at home to make

sure the dishes are put away after the meal by everyone; dish duty

is passed along each night. The tray is simply handed over to pairs of

hands waiting to clean the dishes at college. Nutrition is a factor at

home, and Mom creates meals with that in mind. A new food group

sprang to life upon entering a residence hall: Mountain Dew, Doritos,

Ben & Jerry?s, Ho-Ho! ?s, Oreos, the list could go on and on.

Privacy is always available at home; there is somewhere to read,

write, listen to music, or to just rest. Dorm life is a harsh reality to

college, and the only time the room is empty is on a Thursday night.

At home a bedroom is somewhere to keep all personal belongings;

there is a particular space for everything to fit. Space efficiency

becomes a survival tactic in college. When at home there is no worry

of someone coming into the bedroom unless permission is given to

enter. In college a day without at least ten random visitors is

considered boring.

At home, family was the only people living inside the house. In college

the entire floor becomes family. The phone is the link of

communication between friends in high school; e-mail becomes a

second language in college. Conversations at home are often revolve

around the evening news; while at school, it is totally the opposite.

For the college student Western Europe could be wiped out by a

horrible plague and no one would ever know, but last week?s entire

episode of “The Simpsons” could be recited. During high school it was

a chore to walk outside to the mailbox; besides there was nothing

but bills there anyway. Each college student has their mailbox with a

combination, and going to the mailbox was never an ego booster or

breaker before. There is newfound competition in the number, and

size of parcels received each day.

In high school going to bed at midnight is late; asleep by 2:30 a.m. is

an early night in college. At home a bed is somewhere to sleep,

where in college it turns into a desk, table, couch, and anything else

one can imagine. A bed is a comfy, big, relaxing object at home. In

college they said the beds were extra long, but they did not say they

were extra narrow. The front door was rarely locked at home, and if

it was there was always a hidden key. Keys have never been so

important than at college, and they seem to be lost more than ever

before.

The closet at home always seemed a little on the small side; in

college the closets seem big until it is realized they are supposed to

fit everything you own inside them. Clothes were limited at home,

unless a sibling had a similar taste and size. The closet seems to

stretch down the entire hall in college, with an endless supply of

clothes fitting every style and size. Laundry is done without any

thought at home; mom just picks it up and it arrives back to the room

clean, and folded nicely on the bed. Quarters are like gold in college.

The laundry piles up inside the room until it becomes impossible to

pass without falling, and then one has to resort to actually bringing it

down to the to the washer. Jeans at home are washed after each

use, whether they are dirty or not. Recycling becomes synonymous

with laundry in college; jeans can be worn as many times as days in

the week.

High school starts and ends at a set time. Classes in college ?the

later the better. Fire alarms are cool in high school; everyone loves

to get out of class. They are no longer amusing at college, and even

worse when the snow starts to fly. In high school teachers are

always in their classrooms, and fairly easy to find. College Professors

are like celebrities; there are so many people looking for them, yet

they are nowhere to be found. Teachers check to make sure all

books are covered in high school; professors could care less if Disney

pictures covered the pages. High school is free; college is filled with

expenses one never thought possible.

When living at home parents had to know where and when their

children were at all times. In college parents can only hope their

children are at least attending classes. In high school there is a car

available to drive around; even if it is playing taxi driver for a younger

sibling. One hopes they do not forget how to operate a motor vehicle

when they return home on college breaks.

Showers at home are a simple walk to the bathroom. However, it is a

process at college to take a shower; it involves gathering up a

shower basket, towel, and sandals. The bathroom at home has a

towel to wipe hands on, and even some soap to wash them. At

college there is no soap or paper towels; it is a matter of memory to

bring the items from the dorm room to the bathroom. The main

concern at home is the toilet seat being left up by the previous user.

In the college forget hoping they put the toilet seat down; just pray

they flush!

College life is an experience one can never forget. The memories of

high school still linger in every college students thought, but there

are so many other issues to deal with while attending college. Stress

is a word that no high school student can fully understand until

entering college. There are some similarities to home life and college

life, but the differences seem infinite. Though, college life may seem

adventurous; every college student knows exactly how good it feels

to go back home.