As graduation nears

Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much time this summer for relaxation while my arrival at Centre draws near. I’m at a year-round college preparatory boarding school until August 4, leaving only 19 days at home for getting ready to go to college.

As my class’s graduation nears, my term as student government vice president is rapidly closing. One of my last duties was to facilitate every committee’s completion of a service project. To recognize the committees’ efforts, the government held a bonfire gathering with pizza and soda for all members of the committees. I’ve also spent a good deal of time training the leaders of the school who will assume responsibility once my class graduates.

Though I’ve been working hard, I’ve managed to make time for activities that I really like, such as intramural football and basketball. My team didn’t win any games, but we had fun, regardless. I’ve also spent some time reading the works of Shakespeare, whose writing I've come to take great pleasure in. Finally, I always try my hardest to get in the weight room and lift with my friends.

As things here wind down, I’ve been thinking more and more about starting college. I worry about some aspects, but I'm at least confident about the fact that I made the right choice of where I wanted to go. I got into a couple of other colleges that seemed more renowned in the arena of small liberal arts schools, and I didn’t think I would go to Centre until I visited Danville. When I arrived, I was struck by an immediate warmness that wasn't present at the other schools. People looked me in the eye and greeted me, rather than walking by with a lowered head. I could tell Centre was a community. The choice was obvious. I signed the papers accepting Centre’s offer of admission the next day.

I have mixed emotions about going off to college. Part of me is pleased with where I’m going and the environment I'll be entering, but another part of me is anxious about forming new friendships and assuming the college workload. I’m also somewhat sad about having to leave the friends I’ve known for such a long time. The most powerful feeling, however, is the overwhelming feeling of excitement that usually comes over us as we commence new parts of our lives.