So I am working with a girl from a local high school on her college applications this semester. She and I have been working together since my freshman year of college which was her sophomore year of high school. Her goals have changed a lot in that time and she makes me laugh on a regular basis as we try to brave through the college application process together. One day she asked me what made it worth it and that got me thinking.
We all go to college to get a degree, a piece of paper that is supposed to somehow make our lives have greater value but really, I think it's the lessons we learned outside of the classroom that have enhanced our value. By moving away from home, we have to learn to be on our own and fight our own battles rather than letting our parents fight for us, even if the battle is something as minor the pile of clothing taking over the room. We learn to lead, we learn to follow, we learn to ask for help, and we learn how to deal with a wide array of different types of people.
I participated in a prospective student chat a couple of weeks ago and lots of students ask why I chose Lehigh or what makes Lehigh special and the truth is that I chose Lehigh because of the feeling I got when I was here, there was no doubt that it was the right place, the people would go out of their way to help me even though I was a junior in high school at the time. The advice I gave my younger sister as she navigates the process is that you can choose where to apply using all the facts like size and statistics but in the end, the real choice is made because of something inexplicable. I was more excited the day the Lehigh acceptance showed up than when I got any other letter and knew that it was going to be an amazing four years and I wouldn't trade the experience I have been having for anything in the world.
I am still having trouble coping with the fact that I am almost finished with a full two and half years, I wish college was longer just so I could spend more time enjoying Lehigh and all of the traditions it has to offer. Lehigh/Laf is next week :) and if you haven't heard about that, you will.
Now off to deal with my to do list.
