By: Heather Desmond O’Neill
It’s that time of year again …. College application time! Students are visiting campuses, filling out applications, requesting letters of recommendations and writing college entrance essays. When I have discussions with my students about college, I can’t help but think of the amazing time I had and the wonderful friends I made.
This time of year always makes me a little nostalgic. Oh how I miss the days when all I had to care for was myself. Here are the top 10 differences between my life then, as a naive 18-year-old, and now, as a married, working, mother of two:
THEN:
- Guilt-free sleeping until noon…Who am I kidding? Just sleeping to noon!
- Going to the dining hall – having someone prepare all the meals and do all of the dishes
- Laundry – carving out time on a Sunday between sleeping in, napping and recovering from Saturday evening’s activities
- Thirsty Thursdays – going out on a Thursday night … Heck, going out at all!
- Scheduled classes – one or two a day, allowing you to sleep until 9am, hang out with friends and participate in activities I truly enjoyed
- Always having my girlfriends around
- Working out when I wanted to
- Thinking a box of wine was cool
- Dorm living – always having people around, things to do and places to go
- Dating
NOW:
- There is no such thing as sleeping in – but I do enjoy waking up to my boys standing by my bed, wanting to cuddle, seeking hugs and kisses
- While the dining hall was great, I do like preparing my own meals and actually knowing what goes into that “special sauce.”
- Laundry is a constant. It’s not the washing/drying I mind, it’s the folding and putting away that kills me!
- Thursdays will never be the same….
- Having the time in the day to do what I “want” to instead of what I “have” to do
- My girlfriends and I are scattered throughout the country – I truly miss having them around
- Working out?
- Purchasing a bottle of wine that costs more than $5.99
- Owning my own home – don’t have to wear flip-flops in the shower
- Love that I get to wake up to my best friend and partner every morning.
While I had a blast in college, I wouldn’t trade that life for what I have now. I’m glad I did what I did when I did it – it has made me into the wife, mother and woman I am today. It is fun every year to recall those years and see the excitement on my students’ faces as they embark on their own journeys.
Community Voices for Health 