My eyes became as big as saucers, my heart beat fast, and my legs hurried up the steps in anticipation. I enter the building pulling a cart with all my belongings in it behind me. Then it hit me, Milton is my new home. I am going away to college and I am living in a dorm. I now live in a 14' x 12' room and share it with another person I have never met before!
I took a deep breath. I rest my hand on the door handle to room 139. The first floor. That may prove convenient, I thought. What if my roommate is strange? Why did I go potluck? I should have gone to a college where I actually knew someone! Too late now. I open the door. There she is. She has short brown hair, a big welcoming smile, and an outgoing personality. Maybe this will work.
The day flew by filled with many trips to Walmart, trips to the car, organizing, realizing how unprepared I was to live on my own, and uneasy feelings. As my parents car drove away, I began to reflect. I am in a town I do not know my way around, I do not know anyone but a handful of people, and tonight I have to share a room with a complete stranger! Why did I not go to school in Houston? I began to take in the sight of my room. I have to live here for the next 8 months of my life.
Due to my shy nature, I stayed in my room that night. My roommate ended up staying with her parents in their hotel room. They were not ready to part ways yet. I started to cry. The stress of the day and now staying by myself in a foreign place took its toll. I called my mom. "Kara, you need to tell the RA that you are sleeping alone tonight. It's not safe!" There was no way I was going to act like a baby and tell my RA I needed supervision. I just gained independence, I do not want it back anytime soon. My mother comforted me until she went to bed.
Then I decided to call my best friend from back home. We laughed at my circumstances. "This would only happen to me! Of course my roommate doesn't even stay the night the first night and I know no one else!" I laughed the rest of the night away and no longer worried about not make friends. I would have to push myself. Putting myself out there was always a struggle of mine, but I must make friends.
In the coming weeks, my roommate met many people and her outgoing personality made it easier for me to make friends as well. She proved a good roommate and we complemented each other's personalities. I pushed through rush week and the first week of school and managed to make friends. Without the support base of my family nearby, it proved difficult to get out there, but when I did, I found myself. Just Kara. I became myself through moving out, meeting new people, and making my own decisions. This was the beginning of my autonomous self.
No comments:
Post a Comment