In Which I Go Back to College

Ok, not really.

It's 8:40 AM on a Sunday, and I am sitting in a Starbucks somewhere in San Diego. I came into San Diego for Eyal's birthday weekend extravaganza, the first time I have been back in almost 4 months. I have been seeing friends I hadn't seen in even longer. I hadn't realized how much I was missing being with people my own age. Living at home is great. I love my family and I don't mind being there. But for the first time in four years I'm not surrounded by friends. I barely see anyone my own age with a very few exceptions. I don't make time to see anyone much either.

So coming back here has been a very mixed bag (only I would get overly emotional and introspective on a weekend trip to SD. Bugger). I am thrilled beyond reason to be here. I literally got into town on Friday-right before Shabbat-walked into the La Jolla Ralphs, and felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I was suddenly ten times happier. Then I tried to drive out of the Ralphs parking lot and remembered why I HATE IT SO MUCH. But I digress.

I love being here. I love seeing all my friends, and getting up to old shenanigans that I have been sorely missing. I would love being here even if I had no friends here-I just love this city. Within 30 seconds of getting off the freeway I knew I needed to move back here, and soon. But it has also made me sad. I'm not in college anymore, and there's no way of reclaiming that time. It was four precious years and already I feel like an old lady, telling everyone, "in my day...!" Walking through I-house, I felt none of the old anxiety it used to bring me, and realized that I wasted a good amount of my college time being depressed, anxious, or unhappy. I couldn't have changed it-we feel the way we do, when we do, and there's no escaping that. But I wish I could have appreciated where I was more. Hindsight is 20-20.

Without sounding too preachy, the one thing I want to say to my friends who are still in college is that the best part of college, the part that you'll miss the most, is living in an environment where you are constantly surrounded by your friends. Never again will you have so many friends living so near you, and so available to hang out, study together, party together, be there in a pinch, take you to the hospital, and pull all nighters. After college, people go their separate ways. You may still have a group that sticks together but it will be much smaller. And it's easier for life to separate you once you've left the nest of school.

So take the advice of this old lady (haha) and understand why exactly it is that they say these years are the best ones. It's all about friends.