In recent weeks, I have been adjusting to a whole new lifestyle: new schedule, new professors, new people and even new water pressure.
I come from a small town of less than 800 people, and this is all so surreal to me. I can’t even decide if I like some aspects of college life because they are still so new to me.
Living here has shown me how coddled I was all throughout high school. Knowledge was spoon-fed because teachers had to care whether you passed or failed. At USC, it is your responsibility to learn the material or face the consequences.
In high school, I was never forced into clubs but instead was “greatly encouraged.” At USC, you can be part of all student organizations or keep to yourself. This environment — however scary it may seem — is where true leaders are formed.
Much like training wheels on a bike, high school pretty much assured that you got going without having to balance yourself. Those training wheels are ripped away in college, and you are free to speed off or fall depending on how much effort you are willing to put in.
I hope I am not the only one that is both afraid and excited by the aspect of having so much power over how to live my life. I have the ability to eat ice cream 14 times a week with no consequences (other than the gradual deterioration of my health).
I have yet to run into any of the stories I was warned about, such as bad roommates and evil professors, but I never realized freedom would be the biggest and scariest change of all.
My fear of freedom may seem a bit strange if you don’t understand where I'm coming from. You see, now it is up to us. Our parents and our professors aren't responsible for how we utilize the opportunities we have. It has been a little over a month now, and I still can’t believe I am here.
USC is my home now. I'm a Gamecock.