College was far from perfect. I wanted it to be perfect so badly. I wanted to nod my head and not feel like a liar when someone would shout “these are the best four years of our lives!!!” My college experience was MUCH different than I how I anticipated, so let me run you through it 🏃‍♀️ Freshman year — covid In my head we should have had communal dorms and an open door policy: in reality we took online classes in an off-campus building with sterile fluorescent lighting and fire alarms that went off every night at 2am (gateway survivors unite). We would wander around the halls with white claws in hand praying to hear a party going. We got to know each other in 10x speed. These people are still my best friends and will be for forever. Sophomore year— cancer In my head it should have been a perfect year: in reality my roommates would fix wig before we went out to make sure my fake hairline was straight and didn’t make my forehead look ginormous. I would get home and lay in bed with bone pain coursing through my legs during my fourth month of chemo. Junior year — 1/2 depressed 1/2 euphoria In my head, cancer should have ruined the rest of my college experience: in reality the emotional fog eventually lifted. I studied in Rome, traveled all over Europe, and experienced happiness I never thought would be possible again. Senior year — growth, healing & friendship I released the “should” “best” and “perfect” ness of it all. In my head these should have been the best four years of my life: in reality they weren’t. Instead, College has happened & life has happened in tandem; with all of its rawness, sorrow, and beauty too. College can be ALL the things. It wasn’t ‘perfect’ and it wasn’t the ‘best four’ but in the end I look back and smile so so so so so big. Mostly because I have met the most incredible, brilliant, driven, down to earth people who have shown me the kind of love that makes everything feel okay & possible. Thank you @uscedu & the people I met here I love you with my whole heart.