There are some things that fundamentally, every girl must experience in order to be a functioning collegiette. In some way, shape or form, we all embarrassed ourselves in middle school, had an “it’s the end of the world!” moment in high school, and somehow made it to college. While we’re all smart, confident, and beautiful women today, we all had to start somewhere. Take a look at some of the pit stops (or potholes) every girl takes on her way to the real world.
1. Getting your preferred hairstyling tool
No longer were you a mess of frizz after getting your first hair straightener and nevermore were you the victim of having your hair break off because you showered in the morning and it froze while you waited for the bus (it happens). You looked (slightly) more put together, especially after mastering how you actually use it: cue the techniques of sectioning your hair, straightening from the root down, using a round brush, and eventually, the fact that you need to put product in your hair to protect it from heat so you don’t end up like this poor soul:
2. Going to the mall with your friends
No longer were you plagued with your mom or dad looming over your purchases and listening in on your middle school gossip pertaining, but not limited to, who just got a new pair of Juicy sweatpants and who didn’t get invited to last night’s sleepover (see number 3). You could roam from store to store picking out all by yourself the necessities of the time, like strawberry scented body glitter and 38-pack stud earrings from Claire’s shaped like inanimate objects. Equipped with your fashion-forward mini-purse and your Baby G watch, you finally had your first glimpse of freedom.
3. Your first sleepover
Somewhere between the ages of 8 and 13, you had your first of many slumber parties. You tossed and turned the night before about what your friends would think of your jammies and whether or not the Ouija board really does contact another world. The night finally comes and you inevitably come to some pretty intense realizations, like what TV is like after 10:30pm. You probably tested out makeup for the first time, using your best friend’s rainbow eyeshadow palette, and determined that you will wear pink eyeshadow every day for the rest of your life. After swapping gel pens for two hours and playing MASH, one of two things happened: you fell asleep around 11pm (whoa, night owl!), or you flipped out and had your friend’s mom call your parents to come pick you up. This pivotal night came to shape every interaction you will have with your best girlfriends for the rest of your education—since college is essentially one giant sleepover, anyway.
4. Your first dance
Again, somewhere between the ages of 12 and 16, you went to a dance. You planned your outfits with your friends weeks in advance, and decided on your favorite black tank top, flared jeans, Adidas shell-toe sneakers, and, obviously, pink eyeshadow. You give yourself a nice head-to-toe dosing in body glitter and Britney Spear’s Fantasy perfume, and pile into the car so you and your friends can show up in style in your dad’s mini-van. As you walk in, you hear all your favorite songs of the time, like “Get Low” by Lil Jon and “Hey Ya!” by Outkast. When the slow songs come on (“Burn” by Usher, anyone?), you panic as people start pairing off and end up at an arm’s length away from the kid that sits behind you in Pre-Algebra as you realize he’s trying to grab your butt. Much like sleepovers, dances still permeate our lives today, it’s just that instead of a gymnasium, it’s someone’s basement and there’s usually alcohol involved.
5. Your first screen name
You finally installed the free trial of America Online, or AOL for the well-informed users, and discovered the one outlet that obliterated all other modes of communication. You didn’t have to give out your home phone number anymore so your friends could call you, and passing notes in Social Studies was now a thing of the past. You rather haphazardly formulate your SN, frustrated only to find out that socc3rgurl1992 was taken, how you’ll never know, because it’s just too original for anyone else to come up with. You settle for socc3rgal19082 and begin a journey into social media, a voyage we all know never faded into the darkness. The opportunities were literally endless. You discovered “flirting” and put your “boyfriend’s” name in your Buddy Profile. You learned how to be passive aggressive through your ~*aWay*~ messages telling people to just leave you alone…. And unfortunately, learned how to cope with rejection when your friend didn’t include your initials in her list of besties. The advent of Facebook chat changed everything, but you’ll never forget AIM.
6. Your first formal
If you didn’t make it to prom, don’t worry—you literally missed nothing. If you did, you can assure your friends who didn’t go that in fact, they literally missed nothing. You spent at least a month shopping searching for the perfect dress. You made hard choices like should it be a long dress or a short dress, should you splurge on that up-do that you know will be incredible, and should you get a French manicure or get a more edgy color to match your teenage angst. You secretly want your date to ask you to the dance the way Seth asks Summer in The O.C. or how Gary asks Morgan in Laguna Beach (side note: what do you think she ended up doing with the fish afterward?). Most likely, he asked you via text or on AIM and it was still absolutely perfect. If you were really dedicated, you tried out a spray tan (which completely ruins the dress, but you won’t know that until the next morning) and if you don’t sweat it off by the time you get to the prom, your hands and elbows are shedding “tan” flakes for the next week. You stand with all your friends for an hour or so taking pictures for your Facebook album, titled “Forever Young” or “I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life: Senior Year.” You get an awkward snap of you and your date, stuff yourself in a limo, and head to your destination. Three hours later, you climb back into the same limo, slightly more disgusting than before, and head to the after party!!!
7. Your first day as a freshman in college
Not every girl gets to experience this, and those that do have unique experiences across the board. However, there are a few things that more likely than not happened. When you and your parents arrive to unpack, you are confronted with the reality that will haunt the next four years of your life: you have way too much stuff. Next, you meet your roommate. She also has way too much stuff, and the yearlong struggle to cope with how many black skirts and “going-out shirts” ensued. A tearful goodbye to your parents made you feel a little awkward in front of your new college friend, while feeling a sadness that is very real, but very brief. You get down to business hanging up your first college poster and pictures of your friends from home, and concocting a plan for how to get alcohol for the night (and the rest of the year). A girl from down the hall has a brother or sister with a Mod, and you and a few girls head down to Lower for the first time. You’re either off-your-rocker drunk or entirely too sober to handle the first night of school. You get asked, “Who do you know here?” a couple times before sneaking into a sliding door that doesn’t have a gatekeeper. Last but not least, you experienced Late Night mozzarella sticks for the first time. If you didn’t, you did it wrong, sister.
There are many other moments that define who you are today as a Collegiette, like your first manicure, your first time babysitting, your first job, and the first time you ever asked a girlfriend if you could borrow an article of clothing. They vary from girl to girl, and while they seem hilarious and mortifying now, you wouldn’t be who you are today without them.
Photo Sources:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/20-things-you-wish-you-could-forget-about-middle-s
http://www.complex.com/tech/2012/12/15-away-messages-girls-used-in-college/related
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/170644273353278854/
http://24.media.tumblr.com/3262f433ab7da86e158ef4af62ca65b0/tumblr_mly33uEeix1rjm8ewo1_1280.jpg