The Beginning: Fall Semester 2011

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."   - Seneca

School starts in eleven days. Am I allowed to call college school? When the transition from a small bowl to pond is so obvious the question of change is pestering. At this point I don't know much about college life but I have my theories.
First:
College is most likely a bigger version of high school with different objectives. Instead of searching for group that suits you the most, the ancient cliques of two months ago, networking has become everyone true calling. The importance of fitting in with a particular group of people is a thing placed on a shelf, never spoken of again. The goal of college is according to motivational speakers is to get your best qualities out there and making a lasting impression.
Second:
I imagine I can't be the only naive person floating around college campuses. Partying is as new to me as fire to the cavemen. So when I've been warned to avoid partying too much the truth is, where would I start? Thinking about it now there are a lot of things that I am still left in the dark about, for example: why would you make out with a person you don't like? why is it called making out? how come the dominant form of dancing resembles a sexual act? what's the point of holding a conversation when I can't hear you? and why do you insist on using my leg as arm rest? These aren't difficult question and I doubt college makes them clearer, it seems to be a matter of experience go figure. But will a college party be any different from a high school party...really?
Third:
I doubt college is as hard as people think it is. School, like everything else, is only as difficult as we want it to be. The advice you often get is 'buckle down', but what we should be told is, it's nothing new. We've been students our whole lives the only thing that's changed is the place. So why so scary?

Starting over again sounds stressful, and college will make you do exactly that. It's tiring and complicated sometimes and I love it. Sooner or later people come to realize that the world is smaller than they think it is, and take the chance to start over for granted. I'm not going to lie and say I used all my chances to their full potential but I did get to try every persona I could ever want. I know how it feels to bully and be bullied. I can tell you how it feels to be followed by a halfhearted stalker. I remember being the loner, the weird kid, the book worm, etc. College is just another chance to find me...so now what?