2008 Woodie Awards
Growing up is hard to do
Shannen Garza
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Opinion
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I don't like raisins. It's not that I don't like what they are, I just wish they would have stayed grapes. Now they're just dried up and wrinkly, and I can't help but think that anyone who enjoys such an inedible object must be on drugs.
Sometimes I think every moment in life can be compared to some type of fruit. There are the vibrant moments, like oranges, the sweet moments, like strawberries, and then there are the times life is like raisins. You know, just weird.
Raisins are the awkward turtle of fruit and fruit-like substances. When you're a raisin, you wish you could go back to the way you were, but alas, you must remain a bruise-colored purple and wrinkly mass of grape skin.
That's what college is-- a bundle of ridiculous awkwardness. I mean, technically, I'm an adult. However, let's face it, I still eat dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets. I have the attention span of a ferret on crack.
I mean, although I enjoy being able to sign my own consent forms, the signs of adulthood are few and far between. The fact that people are starting to treat me as a mature being, even though I sometimes practice Michael Jackson moves in my room when no one is looking, is borderline insanity.
Let's be honest, no one actually looks forward to the "adult" part of being an adult. It's not like I woke up one morning and said "Oh my gosh, I'm an adult. What should I do first? File documents? Do my laundry? Oh, I know! I'll balance my checkbook." It's more like "I'm going to rollerskate from the kitchen to my bathroom. Why? Because I can."
The discovery of having the power to do anything your little heart desires is an amazing feeling. Well, almost anything. I can't become a sumo wrestler due to a weight deficiency, but a few extra oreo cookies and the sky is the limit.
I guess the biggest thing I have had to adjust to is being my own cheerleader. There's no one there to push me anymore, to tell me to get something done. If I want to make something of myself, it's my job to take this opportunity and run with it. I'm not going to lie, that's a ridiculously hard task. I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, and now I'm responsible for my own destiny.
To me, college is about discovering who I am. I want to be the person who has goals but isn't afraid to live in the moment. I want to know where I'm going without knowing how I'll end up getting there. More importantly, I want to know what I'm having for lunch when I arrive.
I guess becoming "adult-like" isn't all that bad. I have so much opportunity for impact on the world. I guess this transition is only awkward because I fear that change is expected of me once I've crossed a certain line. Luckily, in my world philosophy papers and ice cream sundaes go hand-in-hand. No matter what I'm doing, I'm sure to be in for a treat.
Sometimes I think every moment in life can be compared to some type of fruit. There are the vibrant moments, like oranges, the sweet moments, like strawberries, and then there are the times life is like raisins. You know, just weird.
Raisins are the awkward turtle of fruit and fruit-like substances. When you're a raisin, you wish you could go back to the way you were, but alas, you must remain a bruise-colored purple and wrinkly mass of grape skin.
That's what college is-- a bundle of ridiculous awkwardness. I mean, technically, I'm an adult. However, let's face it, I still eat dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets. I have the attention span of a ferret on crack.
I mean, although I enjoy being able to sign my own consent forms, the signs of adulthood are few and far between. The fact that people are starting to treat me as a mature being, even though I sometimes practice Michael Jackson moves in my room when no one is looking, is borderline insanity.
Let's be honest, no one actually looks forward to the "adult" part of being an adult. It's not like I woke up one morning and said "Oh my gosh, I'm an adult. What should I do first? File documents? Do my laundry? Oh, I know! I'll balance my checkbook." It's more like "I'm going to rollerskate from the kitchen to my bathroom. Why? Because I can."
The discovery of having the power to do anything your little heart desires is an amazing feeling. Well, almost anything. I can't become a sumo wrestler due to a weight deficiency, but a few extra oreo cookies and the sky is the limit.
I guess the biggest thing I have had to adjust to is being my own cheerleader. There's no one there to push me anymore, to tell me to get something done. If I want to make something of myself, it's my job to take this opportunity and run with it. I'm not going to lie, that's a ridiculously hard task. I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, and now I'm responsible for my own destiny.
To me, college is about discovering who I am. I want to be the person who has goals but isn't afraid to live in the moment. I want to know where I'm going without knowing how I'll end up getting there. More importantly, I want to know what I'm having for lunch when I arrive.
I guess becoming "adult-like" isn't all that bad. I have so much opportunity for impact on the world. I guess this transition is only awkward because I fear that change is expected of me once I've crossed a certain line. Luckily, in my world philosophy papers and ice cream sundaes go hand-in-hand. No matter what I'm doing, I'm sure to be in for a treat.