I'm sitting in my den at my home in Walkerton. Nine months ago, a person had to pull some gymnastic moves to get in the door to this room. I had new pillows piled on top of a toaster oven, and a cheap kettle was sitting on Mom's desk. A big and green comforter was jammed into a plastic bag marked "bed in a bag" and beside it was a George Foreman grill with a receipt taped to the top of the box. You couldn't see the carpet because of all the college things that were stacked there.
Now, you can actually see the carpet…I didn't know there was grey in it.
In September, I watched as the scenery to Hamilton slowly passed by the right window of the backseat of my Ford Explorer. When the school crept close, those butterflies that I had been fighting away, slid into my stomach, and made me almost sick.
My Dad, the guy that nearly cried when I showed him my prom dress, cried all the way home to Walkerton, after leaving his baby girl in her dorm room.
My mother, the wonderful woman that she is, hugged me good-bye, and went on her way, knowing that her daughter was taking one step further away from the nest that she created for her.
I’ve come a long way from that girl, on that first day of residence.
I knew that college was going to be a battle, but I had no idea that I would learn more than what my journalism classes were teaching me.
I’ve learned what makes a good friend, and what doesn’t. I’ve learned that to make good friends, you first need to be one. I’ve learned that it’s OK to say “no”. I’ve learned that I’ve got the makings of a good journalist, but I’ve also learned that it’s just not going to be handed to me. I’ve learned that Hamilton isn’t as bad as I thought it was. I’ve learned that my parents love me for who I am, and not what I want me to be. I’ve learned that friends are the best medicine to a broken heart. I’ve learned that sometimes, you just gotta’ suck it up, no matter how much you don’t want too. I’ve learned that my hometown, may not be my home forever. I’ve learned that “fun” and “alcohol” do go together, but so does “toilet” and “hangover”. I’ve learned that long-distance phone charges are worth every penny spent. I’ve learned that the tough parts of life, can be dealt with on your own, but it’s really nice to have support through those tough times. I’ve learned that dreams are great, but reality can be better.
The sad thing is this, it’s not over. Life is going to throw new challenges at me, and I’m going to have to have to handle them. I’m going to probably feel the sting of a “break-up” again. I’m going to have to look at my mother’s eyes filled with tears, and my father, the big man that he is, looking so small. I’m going to have to say good-bye to a beloved pet. I’m going to have to know how to handle peer pressure.
