While washing dishes, I had this conversation with myself, “Wait what year am I going into? I just finished my second… so… JUNIOR!? Damn! Where has the time gone?
I still remember my first day at AU. I was wearing a pair of jeans I’ve now thrown away because they had huge holes by the crotch, an orange t shirt, a green hoodie, and army Converse I bought because they were only five dollars. It was drizzling out. We went to meet with my financial aid adviser as soon as we arrived. I still have no idea what any of that shit means. By the way, it also recently hit me that when I graduate, I HAVE BILLS TO PAY. College loans are a certainty of my imminent future. I should start saving… Next we walked to Housing and Dining so I could get an ID card. Even though I’ve lost my ID 3 times since then, I keep that first picture. It captures exactly how I felt in that moment. Overall, I look awkward but also a little scared and I’m wearing and uneasy smirk that says ,”Well, this is it.” Next, my grandfather and aunt give me hand dropping my stuff off in the room, Leonard 418. My roommate Cori had already arrived and set up her space. She left open the side of the room I wanted without even consulting me. Come to think of it, that should have been an indication that we’d get along. I mean she was really just grabbing the one bed that was on the ground and I was stuck with the loft bed, but I didn’t care and I still don’t. I wanted to be next to the window.
Right after my bags are down, my grandfather and aunt give me goodbye hugs. I say, “That’s it?” My grandfather chuckles and replies, “Yeah, we’ve got to get back on the road.” Aunt Monica adds, “Yeah I’ve gotta pick up the kids.” I was a little hurt. I ask for money. They give me what they have in their pockets. I can’t even remember how much it was but I don’t think it was any more than 20 bucks. God I was broke that semester. I walk them downstairs and watch them drive away, fighting back tears.
I won’t bore you with the rest of that story, but the point is, I’ve come a long way. I have two more weeks of summer in Boston and I’m ready to get back to my AU routine: school, school, school, work, work, work, smokey, smokey, smokaayyyy. ¡TRUCHA!
And by ‘smokey’ I do mean the bear.
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