If I had to sum up my college experience thus far in one word, I would use “growth”. If I had two words I’d also throw in “change”. My BU experience in three words: growth by change. I remember being a senior in high school — building my future, while all the while trying to savor what’s left of the moment. It’s like straddling two worlds; there’s the world you’re living in and the world you’re planning to live in. It’s a series of choices, of opportunities being presented to you, and it’s a time when change is happening whether you think you’re ready or not.

When I came to Boston University, I was a freshman with no direction. Thankfully, I enrolled in CGS where there was no rush to decide on majors, but to be honest, the most major thing I wanted to decide on at the time was lunch.  I had horrible bangs and grandiose plans as to where I’d be in 10 years, i.e. St. Tropez with Beyoncé, and the like – yet, no plan as to how I was getting there. Mistaking my daydreams as drive, I suddenly found that almost everyone else in my classroom had the same drive as I did. Shocked and stunned that everyone else thought they too were next on Elton John’s invite list, the time came for me to make decisions about matters other than lunch. Change set in, and I grew.

As a sophomore and junior, I broke out of the freshman bubble. I was surrounded by upperclassmen who had their professional lives within reach. They were motivated, and driven by things other than caprese salad. My classmates came from different backgrounds and some had to work harder than I did to earn a spot in the classroom. It was then that I realized that hard work was not so cliché, but rather a necessity, and my college goals went from two Coronas short of Girls Gone Wild to two pantsuits away from sharing a wardrobe with Hilary Clinton. I also grew out those ridiculous bangs. Once again, life changed, and I grew.

Now here I am, four years after I started this educational expedition. I’ve held internships at NBC, Glamour Magazine and The Tyra Banks Show. I moved into my first apartment and built a home with friends who’ve become family. Three spring breaks, six finals’ weeks and at least 10 lost Terrier cards later I’ve come full circle, right to where I started.  Facing choices, and opportunities, and anticipating change whether I’m ready for it, or not.  Which makes me think maybe this cycle is not just for the soon-to-be collegiate or the soon-to-leave collegiate, but rather the constant butterflies in your stomach is simply life.

As much as I’ve learned in four years, such as extra-wide bell-bottoms should be left to Cher, and dark eyed brunettes should never go platinum blond, I can, more importantly, walk away knowing one thing:
The only constant in life, is change. And on the flip side of change, is growth.