In high school, I was appalled by the way the previous high
school seniors came back and had completely different ways about them. They
acted like they were so much different than myself and had new mannerisms and
ways of speaking. But, after my year of change, I understand.
Leaving home and moving to college is huge. There is no other way to describe it. You quickly learn
what’s important to you and what is not worth fighting for, which goes for
people as well. Suddenly, the world is truly yours to take and you get to decide what mark you’d like
to make on it.
College is change. Leaving is change. And as much as I’ve
fought changes in the past, there is no doubt about it that I’ve learned to
embrace them, because change is growing
up.
I’m different than I was a year ago. I’ve been plucked out
of the town I’ve lived in for 18 years and moved to places that I’ve created a
new Anna in - a clean slate, but really just an opportunity. I’m different, but I like to believe that I’m better.
I am choosing who I am now. I go to church willingly, I call
my mom often, I have joined a sorority, I choose my classes and if I want to
attend, my standards are higher, my speech has changed, I sleep during the day,
I believe what I want to, and the list goes on and on. But now, I am nearly
positive that I am on my way to becoming the true Anna, meaning the one I am by
choice.
Now as I sit here, thinking of creative ways to get my
entire dorm room into my car, I am sad to see this year ending. This year has
brought me so much enlightenment and happiness that I am feeling bittersweet
about this next step, but then I stop myself. I know better.
My world is changing again, but now I know to take full
advantage of it. I have changed, but
I am without a doubt still Anna, just a more developed version of myself. I know that if I never step forward, I will
always be in the same place. And there is far too much I’d love to see. J
