As children, we constantly heard the saying “don’t wish the time away.” Of course, being kids who had not experienced the struggles of adulthood, we constantly wanted to be older. In elementary school, I can remember thinking how great it would to be an adult. It was a world that I thought I knew so much about- a perfect world with no worry or struggle. There was no one there to say no or yell because “grown ups” were the elders. As it turns out, I was sadly mistaken.
As I walked into my dorm room for the first time, without my mom or dad by my side, I knew that I was officially an independent adult- to an extent. Unfortunately, the feelings of happiness and excitement did not rush over me as I imagined. I was nervous about being on my own and scared of the new challenges that I would soon face. I, of course, fell into my same naive thinking and wanted nothing more than for the time to pass quickly.
On Friday September 5, 2014, the first and second floors of our residence hall gathered into one common room for our first of many RA sponsored programs. We were set to watch the film 13 going on 30– one that I had never seen. I thought this movie was going to be a classic “chick flick” with no real meaning behind it, but filled with great entertainment nonetheless. As I sat on the floor, enjoying popcorn with 30 other girls, I was pleasantly surprised by the valuable lessons that this film brought out in each new scene. The idea of never wishing time away fit perfectly into the experience that we were and still are going through. Jenna thinks that her life is so tough. She tries to be a part of the “cool group,” hurting her true friends to get her way. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned and Jenna decides that she wants to be “30, flirty, and thriving.” Magically, her wish comes true. From the outside, her life as an adult may have seemed like the one that I had imagined as a child. However, from the inside, it was clearly far from perfect. After she sees what a disappointment her “adult” life turned out to be, Jenna returns to her normal, 13-year-old self. As she sits alone in the closet, Jenna realizes that she should enjoy her time as a child and be herself. This does not include being a part of the popular group, formally known as the “six chicks.”
Watching this film and discussing its meaning with all of my new friends helped me to realize that although college might seem a little scary and intimidating, it’s what a person makes of it. I can have one of the best experiences of my life here, and it’s up to me to make it happen. I shouldn’t wish my time away because, as I have found out before, I’ll live to regret it. As long as I am being myself and I am happy with the person I am, nothing can bring me down.