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| College student's hierarchy of needs. |
Back in high school I dreamed of the day I became my cooler, college self. I’d go to parties and concerts, be fluent in German, meet interesting people, learn what matters to me, have an amazing boyfriend/partner in crime, still be close with my family, and be excited to get out of bed every day to take on the next big adventure. Well, thanks to hard work, good luck, and wonderful people, it’s all come together. I’m halfway through my freshman year of college and experiencing I guess what you’d call self-actualization.
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| The day before Fall Term started. #LifeAsAJStudent |
15-year-old Lily definitely made her fair share of lists about her hopes and dreams: How to Rule the World, Movies to See For Inspiration, Books All Great Leaders Read, Where I Will Be In Five Years. I thought I’d be in my sophomore year of college (Surprise! Germany!) studying film in Colorado, California, or Texas. Who knew I’d be sitting in the atrium of the UO’s journalism school writing about PR and protestors surrounded by screens flashing Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump? You never know how much you don’t know.
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| My view this afternoon. Perspective sure is a pal. |
Still, I know high school freshman Lily would be winking at me in approval from her seat in German I class. I may not be studying film, but I did give a presentation on German television in The Bier Stein, a boisterous Eugene restaurant, to my German topics class. And although I’m not working on my next cinematic masterpiece, my minimalistic video submitted to Hall Government provided me with the resources to throw a memorable casino night.
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| Nothing beats fresh German pretzels (left) or some wild Bingo games with friends (right). |
The University of Oregon was not where my 15-year-old self envisioned herself five years later. Something I didn’t consider at the time was how I planned on keeping that family-college-friends life balance. Of course it’s attainable from faraway— I learned that last year. But, I mean, it’s also pretty awesome having your dad zip down on a Thursday evening to take you to the Brad Paisley concert two blocks from your dorm. Or if you forget the dress you wanted to wear to casino night, home sweet home is not too far.
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| We're CRUSHIN' IT with Brad and Puddles. |
And the UO has proven itself cooky enough for my taste. The people I’ve met aren’t just clever and compassionate, they’re willing to go to all of the awesome events the university hosts— Acro and Tumbling, UO’s LGBTQA3 annual drag show, and other shindigs I don't even know exist yet. It’s tough realizing half of my first year is already over. Partly because the number of memories and new friends that have come into my life during these past few months should’ve taken at least a year or two to experience and gather. But also because it means this whole thing will pass quicker than I can imagine.
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| Good thing I brought some ones to the drag show! |
15-year-old Lily, I hope you’re proud. I’m getting out of bed every morning excited for the next adventure— exploring the Eugene hills, interviewing high-ranking administration, tackling business calculus— and this is just the beginning of my college adventure. But for now it’s time to study!