IT WAS my first real "college" moment. I still remember the feeling of anticipation and excitement from that hot, muggy night two summers ago. I was finally about to be on my way. I wasn't on the Lawn or in Hancock that first night -- I wasn't even in Charlottesville yet. Flanked by two of the ultimate authorities on college, my older sisters, I was in the storage container aisle at Target.
The debate over precisely which plastic box system to employ was intense. And that was just the tip of the iceberg, in all honesty. I consulted about nearly everything. Jersey sheets or regular cotton? Laundry bag or basket? When we finally left at closing time that night, I emerged with two shopping carts full of paraphernalia that would make my dorm room perfect. I felt as though I really had the next four years covered. I had everything I needed, or so I thought.
In the course of my first year, I discovered that there is something that just isn't on any "to buy" list and you can't find it at your local shopper's paradise. It would be difficult to split the cost with your roommate, and there is no way that your parents will be able to send it in a care package.
The ability to adapt to the unexpected is vital to your University experience. In spite of careful planning and preparation, things will not always go as expected and learning how to deal with that was one of the most powerful lessons I have learned since arriving at school.
It first hit me when my parents drove off after move-in day. In all the emotion of the farewell, they forgot to give me the money for my new college account. For the next week, I proceeded to borrow money from my new hallmates instead of just going to the ATM like any normal person. See, college does strange things to you. It gives you nearly all of the independence and responsibilities of an adult but without the experience to always act like one. Waiting for the check from my parents to arrive, I was wondering how I would survive that first week, let alone the next four years.
Granted, this seems slightly crazy. But it was really just the beginning.
Settling into my room that week turned into a year-long process. There was always this one plastic box that just didn't fit anywhere. I couldn't believe that after such careful planning and consideration about my dorm room accessories, something was actually unnecessary.
Again, you're probably thinking that if these were my biggest problems first year, I really don't have much to talk about. However, they weren't. Many things, both positive and negative, won't go according to plan. But everything will work out in the end.
I have blindly walked into some of my greatest experiences. I met some of the most significant people in my life on a whim. The important thing is to not let your expectations shape or limit your thoughts and actions. Don't let the surprise of something stop you from seeing where it takes you.
Perhaps it will first hit when you sense that you won't be in your roommate's wedding 10 years from now. Or maybe instead when you are convinced that he or she is the soul mate that you never expected to have. It could happen when you end up majoring in a subject you first signed up for only because everything else was full. Whatever the situation, don't be surprised and just let things go. You can't plan everything out.
I have two years left here. No one can predict the future, but I am fairly certain that many things will happen that I do not plan or expect. Some will be wonderful and memorable experiences. Others will prove to be challenging and perhaps difficult to overcome. But as the seemingly tired saying goes, that's life. You just keep going on and get better at adapting with each day that passes.
I almost have my plastic box system perfected, but I've realized that overall, it doesn't really matter much. In reality, it is what I have brought with me and what I take with me along the way that is most valuable.
After you unpack and settle in, there are bound to be a few bumps in the road. But ultimately, things will smooth out. Having fun keeps it all in perspective. That's one thing that you can't bring in a plastic storage unit. But you can certainly count on finding it here.
(Katherine Martini is a Cavalier Daily columnist.)
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