Lazy summer days?

Laura Kebede
Published: July 16, 2008

Ah, there aren’t many feelings that can measure up to the feeling of summer. With sunny days, long beach vacations, peaceful starry nights and not a worry in sight it’s easy to relax and recharge. Or so I thought.

Graduating from high school was such a wonderful beginning to what I perceived would be an unwinding season before the chaotic change into college. And then reality set in. College requires money, which requires lots of hours at a job which I would not be able to put off until the fall at the risk of jeopardizing my focus from school. And matching up work schedules with friends proved to be more difficult than I previously expected. There were only rare instances where we had the same day off and my social life stayed the same as when school was in session as opposed to increase as it should be. And because of this upcoming change, my family and I couldn’t afford to go to the beach as we normally do.

The biggest reality check though came when I went to orientation at the University of Missouri. Walking around campus getting a mental map of where everything is forced me to realize: this is my new home, or planning out my class schedule: this is my weekly routine. And I further concluded that though I think my summer will not live up to my expectations, it still has been a preparation. Not only financially but emotionally, too. My attachments to friends and family here have been lessened so that it’ll be at least a little bit easier to let go later. I am slowly but surely becoming more independent and willing to be more open to change and new things and people.

Just another lesson in remembering that everything happens for a reason no matter the circumstances or expectations. It may not always be easy to find the positive side of what you think is a horrible situation.

As for the beach, I think I may just lie out in the sandbox with a beach towel and umbrella and get one of those CDs of nature sounds. I still get a tan either way.

Laura Kebede is a rising freshman at the University of Missouri and a 2008 graduate of Culpeper County High School. E-mail: .