Going back home after being at college can be a very different experience. As a freshman especially, there will be many new things that will be shocking and confusing at first.
1. You will have no idea about what’s on the radio
Being in the American University bubble makes it very easy to be secluded from the outside world; one of these aspects is the radio. Radios now are only listened to in cars, so chances are, it’ll be quite entertaining to turn on the radio when you’re home since you don’t know half of the songs. Sure, at first the summer hits are still playing, but eventually, new songs will come out that you won’t know, now that we can just listen to our iPods.
2. You will not be updated on what movies are out in theaters
Sure you may go to a movie theater once in a while, but when the closest movie theater is out of the AU bubble, it may be unlikely to find yourself going there often. With the amount of activities that there are to do in D.C., going to the movies or looking at movie trailers is usually very low on the list.
3. You will only want real food and forget what real food tastes like
Luckily, living in D.C., there are plenty of options for real food. But after living off of mostly Subway and TDR for three months, home cooking has never tasted better. Sure, when it was easily attainable, home cooking wasn’t as appealing, but now compared to TDR food, even my mom’s tuna salad tastes like gold.
4. Your bed at home will be the hardest thing to leave (besides your family)
You might have thought you were used to questions about college when you were applying, but when you just come home from college, everyone wants to know how it is. There are ample amount of questions about how you like college, do you know what you’re actually majoring in yet, and what you will do with your life… and you’re only a freshman. My personal favorite is, “Have you found your husband yet?”
6. You’re room at home will look spotless
No matter what the state of your room is at school, your room at home will instantly look cleaner. You may not dust and vacuum your room everyday, but coming home, I knew that my mom had cleaned my room while I was at college, and there is something very calming about laying in a room that is freshly cleaned.
Having gone to sleep away camp for many years, I thought that college would feel like camp for an extended period of time, and I’d be fine. After getting home, it’s apparent that at college, since you barely know people at first, coming home to your family can feel better than expected.
Going home from college is definitely new and it can make you realize how much you missed being home. But, college will be your home and you will grow more used to the change. Like Phillip Phillips says, “I’m gonna make this place your home.”