I stood in the doorway looking at my dorm room and realized that this was going to be my room for the next 8 months.  My mom was busy setting things up, and my dad was getting my books from the bookstore.  I put things where my mom told me knowing I would move them later.  Someone had given me advice before I left for school that I was glad I had taken. 

“Let your mom put things where she wants to, and when she leaves, move them to where you want them to be.” 

I was so excited to be here.  The walls of the room were too white; they needed some decorations and fast.  My roommate had already moved in and was out doing something else so I could move in without bumping into her.  Finally my room was set and we stood back and looked at my little home for the year.  The afternoon sun was shining in on my pastel colored bedspread, and everything was organized.  I knew that wouldn’t last long.

I walked with my parents out to the car to say goodbye.  My mom hugged me for several minutes, giving me last minute words of advice.  My dad was getting teary-eyed and gave me a bear hug before climbing into the blue minivan.  I promised I would call them within a few days to tell them how everything was going, and they drove off.  As I walked back to the dorm, I felt my first feeling of sadness, but when I looked up at the tan building in front of me I knew that everything was going to be just fine.  College was going to be great.

 

 

 

We were standing in the middle of the bar, all looking at each other.  Was this really happening?  Did we really have to say goodbye? 

“Guys I’ll be back in two weeks don’t worry.” Jess said to us as we tried to hide our tears. 

I still couldn’t believe that she wasn’t going to be graduating with us in three months.  We had known each other since our first day of classes freshmen year, and had been best friends since.  How was I going to be able to enjoy my last semester of college without one of my dearest friends? 

Erin, Ashley, Jess and I all shuffled forward and hugged each other.  I could hear the other girls crying and tried my best to hold it together, but a few tears squeezed out and ran down my cheeks.  We broke apart and watched Jess walk from the bar with her boyfriend Pat, knowing that our lives were changing again.