When I applied to colleges back in high school, I had no idea where I wanted to go. I applied to a dozen schools—each in another state, except for one—in hopes of having as many options as possible. Though I was clueless as to where I would be pursuing my education, I knew I wanted to attend college out of state.
Going to school in a different state was not a difficult decision for me to make. I am someone who is fond of change, especially when it comes to my surroundings. Being away from home has made me more independent. I can’t go home whenever I feel sick, and I have to rely on myself to get things done. Spending my summer in another state, however, was a new level of independence.
This past summer, I got a small taste of what it’s like to be an adult. I learned that “adulting,” though it has its moments, is not by any means easy.
I spent my summer working full time in Brooklyn and taking a class in Manhattan. Multitasking has never required so much effort. I learned how to balance my complex work schedule with the extra work required for my class while also putting aside time to enjoy the unfamiliar place I was staying at and taking care of myself.
While college is meant to somehow prepare us for the “real world,” we are still relying on others to do so much for us. The only effort that we really have to put in is rolling out of bed to get to class, and making the oh-so-long trek to the caf.
One of the biggest changes I had to learn to adapt to, surprisingly, was grocery shopping. It took a lot of time and budgeting to haul myself to the grocery store each week, especially after so much work and sightseeing. On top of that, I was responsible for cooking all of my meals (and let me tell you, I’m no gourmet chef). After being so used to having this done for me, whether by the cooks at school or my parents at home, it was difficult at first for me to set aside time for this. I’m thankful for my roommates who witnessed my horrible cooking skills and would occasionally surprise me with dinner when I came home from a long day at work.
Working was also a big change to conquer. This was my first internship, but I have been working since I was twelve years old, so I didn’t think this would be so difficult to manage. However, I was the only full-time editorial intern at the start-up company that I worked for. My bosses were wonderful people, but because the business is so new, I was given a lot of responsibility. I was in charge of updating the social media platforms, corresponding with publishers and building strong relationships, conducting interviews, transcribing, writing articles and reviews, creating documents, doing inventory AND going to literary events outside of work. Easy, right? Not quite.
With my job, work almost always followed me home. I always had to be on my toes. This was not in any way easy when factoring in homework and class. Also, as a perfectionist, I was always trying my hardest to produce my best work possible. This is exhausting. When I was little, I had a hard time fathoming why my parents were not compelled to play with me when they came home from work. Little did I know it’s because all they wanted to do was sleep for 10 hours straight. My appreciation for my parents has grown even more since this experience.
The morning commute to work and the ride home was something I enjoyed, but definitely took some getting used to. As somebody who is terrible when it comes to directions, Google Maps very quickly became my best friend this summer. Especially because in order to make it to the office, I had to take three different subway trains from the city, to Queens, to Brooklyn. Thankfully, Google Maps lays out each stop and transfer, so the system was quick to learn. The city is also laid out like a grid, so it didn’t take me too long to get accustomed to (though I did get turned around every once in a while). I soon felt like a pro when asked for directions.
My final lesson this summer had to do with budgeting. While I have always been pretty good at limiting my purchases and saving my paychecks, I never had to factor in all of my meals and cleaning supplies, as well as transportation. It’s not easy to manage the necessary purchases along with a little spending for fun. I have always supported Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle’s belief in “treat yo’ self,” but that can be dangerous when you have to support yourself. I had to keep track of my purchases and limit my budgets. Using coupons and taking advantage of student discounts is always a good idea, whether or not you’re living on your own.
While I had the best summer of my life (so far) by having the most amazing experiences and meeting some of the most wonderful people, I also was forced to gain more responsibility. It was often exhausting but just as equally unforgettable, and it is an experience I could ramble on about for days. Overall, living on your own has many ups and downs, and is filled with life lessons. The best way to learn about yourself is to jump right in.