Happy Halloween! I hope everyone has a fun and safe day. Today, I want to reflect on something not-so-spooky: building independence in college. Like many, coming to Wellesley is my first time fully living away from home. I live in Illinois, so I am a couple states away from my family. Up until Wellesley, I had only been away from my parents for short school trips. Gaining that independence is tough, but rewarding.
One major aspect in which I have gained independence is travel. I regularly fly by myself between home and Boston during breaks. My first college Thanksgiving break was my first time flying by myself. This independence was something I had to adapt to; I am pretty sure the first time I flew back home by myself, I called my parents at least 5 times at the airport to ensure I was checking in my bags correctly and properly reading my boarding pass. After many flights from the same airport though, I feel much more comfortable flying on my own. Trust me, I am a Boston Logan Airport regular now and even have a pre-flight routine there. Since coming to Wellesley, I feel confident enough to fly or travel to most domestic places independently. I even went on my first official solo trip during fall break to Rhode Island; though that was just a short train ride, that ease I felt during the trip definitely came from flying by myself.
Another major aspect is just walking around by myself. I have walked around Wellesley, Cambridge, or Boston on my own before. Before Wellesley, I could not imagine just solo navigating the downtown area of my home city. But that independence here has taught me how to be more street smart in new environments. Like now, I know to keep my earbuds out and stay conscious of my surroundings.
These are definitely some of the more interesting examples of independence in college. There is obviously the tough and unglamorous stuff too that comes with newfound independence: taking care of yourself when your family is not here to remind you of it or being responsible for your own academics. It is a difficult transition, and the only advice I can give is that it simply builds and gets better over time. Of course, that does not mean you have to deal with that transition by yourself though! I am also thankful for the friends I have made here who went through similar transitions and how we have supported each other.
Overall, being away from home is tough. But, I am so grateful for how much I have grown in terms of independence and doing things on my own since I came to Wellesley. It is a crucial life skill that I have built only by being away from home.
Thank you for reading this week!
Eating super delish Tibetan snacks with friends
A super cool bulletin board in my dorm hall! That floor’s theme is classic art.
Lake Waban!