Adulthood???

"We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?"-Meredith (Grey's Anatomy) This is one of my favorite quotes and I think it really applies to all of us at this time in our lives. When I decided to come to the University of Alabama and live in a dorm (even though my house is only 25 minutes away) I was so excited to be "own my own." But I don't think I realized the whole concept of that statement. As if being away from all your family and friends isn't enough, moving away from home means taking care of yourself. No more running to mom with every ailment. I've always considered myself a semi-responsible person, and I am making it just fine, but I'm having to do things I never even thought about before. For instance, the other day, I got a cold. When I get a cold at home, I go to the medicine cabinet and find something to zap the sniffles. But here, in my dorm, I had absolutely no medicine, I felt like crap, and I had to drive to the pharmacy and get some. I really didn't have any idea what to get so I just picked something. Still, no biggie. Money-now that's a different story. I worked for three years in high school as a waitress. My parents didn't make me get a job, it was just something I wanted to try when I was 15 and I ended up loving it. So, I had a decent stash of cash when I came to the University. But since then, my bank account has dwindled fast! My debit card stays swiping hot. I can still live off of what I have, but it makes me sad to see the money I worked so hard to earn slip through my fingers, being spent on groceries. Not clothes, shoes, or purses...but groceries! I'm really learning the value of a dollar. I know my parents will help me out, but since I've been pretty much "independent" for the past three years, it's hard to ask them for anything. That's going to take some humility. Being plucked from my small town-where the elementary and high school were right down the street from each other, and all my classes were within a one minute walking distance-then thrown into the midst of over 20,000 students at a major university comes as quite a shock. Of course, it's nice to be able to make your own schedule and go back to your room for lunch or do whatever you please. But, it's a little alarming the first few days of having to trek across campus to get to your next class when you're used to just walking down the hall. When you graduated in a class of 76 students, even though you might have been the valedictorian, you weren't exposed to near as many academic programs as students who come from 5A and 6A high schools. I don't guess it's a dis to my intelligence, but I feel so out of the loop when kids talk about all these AP and college courses they have taken in high school. And they've also covered much more material in their regular courses. But when I walk into a class, the professor doesn't know that I've never heard of these things, and most probably don't even care. Although there are a few exceptions. I just have to suck it up and catch up the best I can. These examples are just a few among the many different ways I have had to learn to fend for myself. The University and society as a whole expects me to take care of myself and behave like a proper well-rounded young lady because, after all, I am now a "responsible adult." When did that happen? And how do I make it stop?