16 hours until Orientation

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In the time since my last update, I’ve spent 30 hours on the road and covered about 2,000 miles. I spent some time with relatives, discovered that I hate toll booths and the confusing lanes that go with them, and decided that finding radio stations while driving across the country is a surprisingly difficult task.

But I’ve finally made it to Medford! I’m sitting in my hotel room watching The Skulls (which has both Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker, so I can’t help but find it wildly entertaining regardless of its actual quality as a movie) and making sure I know what to expect for Orientation tomorrow. My dad and I spent a while exploring the area. We ate lunch in Davis Square where I found a Chipotle, a fun little movie theater, and had a pretty good Gyro. These three things are all very important in my life so I consider our trip a success.

All throughout the summer, and especially these last couple days, everyone keeps asking if I’m “ready” for college. I guess that’s one of those questions where you’re expected to lie (or at least majorly simplify your answer) because how someone could casually respond to that question in the midst of small talk is beyond me. I’m tired of sticking with the simple “excited but nervous” answer so I’m going to attempt to do a better job here.

The simple answer is actually true. I am both excited and nervous, but the amount of each of these and the other emotions that go with it vary at times. Right now I’m mostly excited. I’m really looking forward to moving into my dorm, meeting my roommate, and finally getting to start college life. But I am nervous about the academic side. Like choosing my schedule and whether or not I should take the language placement exam. I’m also nervous because I don’t know anyone there. I’ve been trying to remember how I became friends with people in the last 18 years of my life, but I’ve realized that even though the people I’ve hung out with have changed, I haven’t had to find an entirely new group of friends since elementary school. I’m also a little overwhelmed by all the changes that come with college. I’m concerned that I’ll miss something important during Orientation and I don’t know how I’ll adapt to all the new responsibility I’m facing. I could go on, but at some point it just becomes too convoluted and confusing to explain.

Overall though, I do feel ready. I recognize the fact that any mistake I make in the upcoming weeks has probably been by someone before me and they probably turned out okay. I also know that I’m about to embark on a phase in my life that I’ve waited years for and that chances are I’ll find my footing. Tufts is going to provide me with some fantastic opportunities and even though I might be nervous about certain parts, I can’t wait to see where the next four years lead.

Tonight though, I plan on relaxing and enjoying my last few hours of laziness because I’ll be pretty busy starting tomorrow.

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Tags: Davis Square, Orientation, preparing for college, Travel