Season 1, Episode 6: The One With College Planning, and the Beginnings of a Wrap-Up

April 09, 2016

Season 1, Episode 6: The One With College Planning, and the Beginnings of a Wrap-Up

My senior year is almost over.

That's quite the terrifying thought for me. As much as I'm excited for college and to get to study what I love, I'm also a bit nervous about finishing up the year here, and, more importantly, leaving.

The last time we talked, it was January, I had just finished my first semester of Senior year, and I was really excited to start reflecting on what I'd learned so far.

Well it's April now.

The third quarter ended just before my choir's spring break trip to Hawaii (which was AMAZING, photos to come at the bottom), and I distinctly remember being excited about getting to go see the USS Arizona Memorial, and getting to eat coconuts, and generally getting to partake in all of the quintessential Hawaiian activities- the way most anyone would feel about going to Hawaii.

There was still a bit of fear in the back of my mind regarding colleges though, because I had yet to hear back from about five of them, and the results were scheduled to come out during the trip. I was afraid that I was going to get a rejection in front of my friends and then have to put up a front for them so they couldn't tell how upset I was.

Luckily for me, all of the decisions came out after the trip, and so I was able to methodically deal with the range of emotions I experienced in the comfort and safety of my own home, which involved quite a few tears (of both excitement and disappointment), cups of tea, skeins of yarn, and hours of composition late into the evening.

As I worked through those emotions, I eventually realized that I was going to decide where I wanted to study (West Coast, Midwest, or East Coast) and what it was I wanted to study (Commercial Music, Political Science, or Criminology). Quite a loaded decision, in my opinion.

But (I think-I hope-I pray) I've made my decision (about 90% of it, at least).

If you're friends with me on social media of any sort, you'll soon see for yourself, but if not, you'll hear from me again soon enough ☺.

The greatest feeling came with that decision though. I finally knew what I was doing. After four years of worrying that I hadn't been doing enough, that I didn't know what I was doing, or what I should end up doing, I had finally found my place.

And so, after Spring Break ended, I was walking up to the doors of the high school with one thought running in my head:

"It's going to go so quickly from here."

Back in the day (freshman year), I took a drama class first semester, and before winter break, I remember my teacher saying "Don't count down the days until break, because once you count down for winter break, and then you're counting down for spring break, then the end of the year, and suddenly the year is over."

For once, it made sense. I'm a senior, I've got 50 days until graduation, and here I am, counting down the days until I can start getting a dorm room, and textbooks, and meeting people and doing things, when I haven't even finished up my time here.

That doesn't mean I need to stop being excited about college, but just that I need to make sure to fully value and appreciate the time I have left in high school. I've been enjoying myself well enough, but even with my augmented studying for AP tests, I can see how quickly the time has gone, and will go for the remainder of the year.

It's both thrilling and terrifying to be in a position where I'm able to look back on everything I've accomplished in the last four years, and what I'll be able to do for the next four, and I feel lucky to be where I am and surrounded by my friends.

In other news, for Lent this year, one of the things I gave up was secular music, which for me meant that every time I had headphones in, or the car radio going, I was listening to Christian music- which was actually fantastic, and I loved it. However, I did limit myself a bit in that, because I wasn't able to begin listening to a soundtrack that many of my friends had been pressing me to look at, Hamilton.

But Lent's over now, and I finally listened.

And I'm in love.

As an aspiring government major who also is obsessed with music, this show is the perfect crossover for me, and I'm very seriously considering cross-stitching some of the lyrics to hang in my college dorm... (Alright, confession: I'm actually an 80 year old in disguise).

Much Love and Thanks For Reading!

Signing off,

Amanda