Transitions

         About four weeks into the semester and I can't help but think about the changes. It seems like as the days pass nothing really changes but looking back to a year ago, or even four years ago when  I started college, everything changes. Whether it's a good change or a bad change or something you wish you could take back, it's all part of growing up.
         I was reading an article yesterday tailored to my generation : the 20 somethings. One of the comments made me laugh but at the same time made my mind start churning. When we start thinking what our parents said is right, we've started to grow up and mature ( or go crazy for that matter). It's true though, I can look back at my college freshmen self and realize how dumb or silly the things I did were. I realize not only how much I've grown as a person but how much my faith , my strength and my love of things has grown. I think we all can relate. Things just get different when you grow up.
        It was so weird to me to see parents waving their kids off on the day before class started. I think of this place as my home and these students are just starting that adventure. When I look around the department, more than half of these students are new ( which is absolutely terrifying). The good part about that is, I am able to help the younger students and mentor them from where I was when I transferred to WT a little over two years ago. The scary part is how many people just pass on through without realizing a lot of these.
        Looking at some of my friends who have moved away into the "real world" is also one of those scary parts of growing up. I've become so accustomed to the college life and in less than a year, I will be applying for jobs and making some big decisions regarding my life and the dreams I have set out for myself.
       So when did growing up become so serious? It used to be that being able to tie my shoe was a huge accomplishment. Or riding a bike, or going to that first dance, or that first football game, or the first time you actually get in trouble for something, the first good grade you make, the first school play or the first college acceptance letter. I guess it kind of just comes with time. Nothing monumental happens but something in your mind clicks when you realize it can't just be all fun and games without some hard work and a passion for what you do in life.
      The transition from one year to the next is normally something you don't even realize, until you realize it's a new school year. This is when growing up isn't your height anymore but actual self growing. I think there is a plan set out for us, something bigger than we can imagine and God is waiting on putting the perfect time for everything. So yes, the 20 somethings are for uncertainty and I'm surely uncertain on a lot of things, but my faith is stronger than my doubt. And for the record, my parents aren't ALWAYS right ( just kidding mom, I know you're reading this.)