college life
...out at least ten random visitors is considered boring. At home, family was the only people living inside the house. In college the entire floor becomes family. The phone is the link of communication between friends in high school; e-mail becomes a second language in college. Conversations at home are often revolved around the evening news; while at school, it is totally the opposite. For the college student Western Europe could be wiped out by a horrible plague and no one would ever know, but last week's entire episode of "The Simpsons" could be recited. During high school it was a chore to walk outside to the mailbox; besides there was nothing but bills there anyway. Each college student has their mailbox with a combination, and going to the mailbox was never an ego booster or breaker before. There is newfound competition in the number, and size of parcels received each day. In high school going to bed at midnight is late; asleep by 2:30 a.m. is an early night in college. At home a bed is somewhere to sleep, where in college it turns into a desk, table, couch, and anything else one can imagine. A bed is a comfy, big, relaxing object at home. In college they said the beds were extra long, but they did not say they were extra narrow. The front door was rarely locked at home, and if it was there was always a hidden key. Keys have never been so important than at college, and they seem to be lost here more than ever before. The closet at home always seemed a little on the small side; in college the closets seem big until it is realized they are supposed to fit everything you own inside them. Clothes were limited at home, unless a sibling had a similar taste and size. The closet seems to stretch down the entire hall in college, with an endless supply of clothes fitting every style and size. Laundry is done behind the scenes at home; mom just picks it up and it arrives back to the room clean and folded nicely on the bed. While at college quarters become precious. The laundry piles up inside the room until it becomes impossible to pass without falling, and then one has to resort to actually bringing it down to the to the washer. Jeans at home are washed after each use, whether they are dirty or not. Recycling becomes synonymous with laundry in college; jeans can be worn as many times as days in the week. High school starts and ends at a set time. Classes in college are different, the later the better. Fire alarms are cool in high school; everyone loves to get out of class. They are no longer amusing at college and even worse when the snow starts to fly. In high school teachers are always in their classrooms, and fairly easy to find. College Professors are like celebrities; there are so many people looking for them, yet they are nowhere to be found. Teachers check to make sure all books are covered in high school; professors could care less if Disney pictures covered the pages. High school is free, well for most of us; college is filled with expenses one never thought possible. When living at home parents had to know where and when their children were at all times. In college parents can only hope their children are at least attending classes. In high school there is a car available to drive around; even if it is playing taxi driver for a younger sibling. One hopes they do not forget how to operate a motor vehicle when they return home on college breaks. The bus becomes a new word in one’s vocabulary and taxi numbers are carried in wallets at all times. Showers at home are a simple walk to the bathroom. However, it is a process to shower at college; it involves gathering up a shower basket, towel, and sandals. The bathroom at home has a towel to wipe hands on, and even some soap to wash them. At college there is no soap or paper towels; it is a matter of memory to bring the items from the dorm room to the bathroom. The main concern at home is the toilet seat being left up by the previous user. In the college forget hoping they put the toilet seat down; just pray they flush! Besides the actual differences between life at home and life at school come the meaningful aspects of these things. When I get the mail from home it is a release. I am reminded that someone outside of the immediate community ...