College: One Word With Endless Emotions

Being a senior in high school, I have started using the word "college" more times in one week than I have in all my past years of schooling put together. As graduation nears, the number of times per week is exponentially increasing.

Based on my numerous experiences with the word, I have come to realize that saying "college" in front of varying groups of people elicits varied reactions.

If the word is tossed around in front of a past high school graduate, now attending a college of their own, the word could spark a tantalizing conversation about rising tuition costs and the struggles it will cause our generation. While trying to maintain interest in the one-sided rant that is now freely flowing from the recent high school graduate’s mouth, one does pick up a few useful pieces of information.

After all the conversations I have had with current college students, I have noticed a pattern to the discussion. First, regardless of the seemingly endless tirade they just shared on the costs of being said college student, every penny is worth it. Second, enjoy the last few months living at home because getting free meals from mom and dad will never be taken for granted again.

When mentioning college in front of a parent (or any adult for that matter), be prepared to see the waterworks. This equally tantalizing conversation will probably consist of an overwhelming amount of hugs and an attempt at packing in a life’s worth of advice into one sitting

Teachers usually begin with commenting on the journey ahead and end with the “this has been the best class I have ever had the privilege of teaching” speech, between suppressed sobs.

Surpassing teachers are parents, who definitely take the gold medal in this matter. For some reason, when their child and the word "college" are linked together in a cohesive sentence, it is equivalent to the amount of sadness when Bambi’s mother died in the beloved Disney classic. All these emotions are second nature to any adult prominently involved in a young person's life.

As a senior, dealing with these reactions has become second nature as well. First you indulge them with a hug, then begin the calm down process, and finally commence the slow and gradual inch to the nearest door.

Now, if that same word is used around a group of other seniors, less than two months away from walking across the stage at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in graduation caps, the word "college" has only one meaning: freedom. It is almost as if each mentioning of the word sends a montage of college-life scenarios through their heads, leaving them in a state of pure anticipation.

Yet once the initial rush of excitement has somewhat calmed, the reality of past conversations seem to creep back up into their eager minds. All the words of advice from current college students, teachers and parents lend a comforting sense of security amid all the chaos of college preparations. Even though all the college talk originally felt tedious and overly dramatic, it served as an encouraging base for the new life each student is moving towards.

I can confidently say the emotions evoked by the word "college" are ever changing with the differing audiences. Yet no matter how many connotations the word may hold, it all amounts to the same promise of an exciting future.