One of the many beautiful buildings at William and Mary. (image via businessweek.com)
After a couple of difficult weeks, I’ve made my college decision. Starting in the fall, I will attend the most pulchritudinous university in the world (in my unbiased opinion, of course): The College of William and Mary!
Tremendous focus on undergraduate teaching. An intellectual, diverse, and quirky student body. A lovely campus located in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg. There are too many perks to this place, so I’ll just sum it all up by saying I cannot wait to attend.
My new favorite sweater. It reads “Keep Calm And Go Tribe.” I know, it’s gorgeous.
Just two days ago I edited my “about me” page to update my current academic status. It’s surreal to know that when I started this blog I was in the throes of high school – now, I’m walking away a winner. I’m tempted to get all mawkish and melodramatic, but in short, being able to look through my old posts and see how much I’ve grown and overcome and adjusted makes it so real. Though I hope I’m not coming across as a blowhard braggart, it feels great to think: I fought for this. It’s mine. I’ve earned it.
Not like the challenges will end. Despite its strong sense of community, W&M has a reputation for its tough academics. Even though I’ve been waiting to leave my physical home for the past 17 years, I may encounter some social issues I hadn’t expected. Maybe my roommate will murder me in my sleep (just kidding, I Skyped with my roommate for the first time two hours ago… it was interesting.)
No matter what, I’m ready. I know what I want: to indulge in intellectual exploration, to make great friends in an environment of freedom, to pursue my passions and someday make a change. No matter where I go in life or what happens, I will never stop following my dreams.
I will never stop flying. Not for a second.
On a completely random note, does anyone else watch Queer As Folk? I’m only on episode four but it’s so addicting – I don’t even watch TV! Maybe I’ll write posts about it in the future…
Has anyone else decided which college they’ll be attending? If so, or if you made that decision in the past, what prompted you to choose the place you did? I am completely impartial in saying that William and Mary is the best place ever obviously may be a bit biased but I’d love to hear about all your universities and colleges!
Also, exams coming up in a few weeks. Six exams to be exact. Wish me luck, because I’ll need it. I plan to write more about societal issues and books rather than just posting personal material soon as well. Perhaps I’ll continue the college post series when I’m actually in college. Hm. Anyway, I hope you’re all having a great week and happy almost Friday/Friday!
the quiet voice 
I wish you all the best in college! you’ll grow in many ways and learn so much about yourself in such a short period of time, cherish all the ups and downs, although the downs don’t define you, they do indeed shape you! 🙂
Thank you so much, I can’t wait! It sounds like such a great experience from reading your blog. (:
Congratulations – that sounds like a lovely choice and I hope you’ll be very happy there. How modern to meet your room mate before actually meeting – it wasn’t like that in my day (two friends of mine met sharing a room. One was a radical Marxist, the other a Young Conservative. We’re all still good friends to this day!).
Even though it was AHEM years ago, I remember I chose Birmingham University because:
a) the campus was beautiful when I visited on a crisp autumn day – I ended up working there for years, too, and was always reminded of that when such a day came around again
b) the course had a focus on linguistics and you got to study Old English in the first year. That latter feature was a nightmare as the teacher was scary and you had to pass the exam to be allowed to stay after the 1st year, but whatever!
I refused to take a year out (you’d understand why, I think) so got rejected by Cambridge for being too young to go (I’d skipped a year earlier in my education) and I’m really glad I didn’t go there.
Keep growing, keep reading, keep writing and have a fabulous time. I reinvented myself when I went to University, even changed what version of my name I used, and made lifelong friends.
It is quite a modern invention to meet one’s roommate before actually rooming with them – it has its benefits and disadvantages. Also, I love how you continue to love your university even though you attended it AHEM amount of years ago. (: It’s fantastic that you’re still close friends with your roommates even though they’re quite different from you. I hope my university experience is as fabulous as yours went, thanks for reading and commenting!
One of my met-on-the-first-day friends has a daughter who was hoping to make her own friends for life when she went off to University – I’m not sure it’s that common, as there are four of us who met on the first day and one we met the day after, still all close. I’m also still in touch with my main Uni boyfriend and various other friends. Having said that, I’m not in touch with any of my actual roommates in the flat I was in – the others were in the hall of residence up the road!
Anyway, I’m looking forward to reading about your experiences. You will blossom, grow and have fun as well as learning a lot!
OOOh congratulations!
I still have a few years to go before college… 😛
Thank you Jenny! It’ll come more quickly than you anticipate. (:
Oh, dear. Let’s try not to pretend I’m not worried….
Or is it try to pretend I’m not worried? I really don’t know….
I think you mean the second one, but don’t fret, you’ll do better than fine! If you ever need advice I can provide it, even if it might not be the most quality advice in existence.
Congratulations Thomas! They are lucky to have you. I don’t even know you, but I look forward to your future. Because I have a feeling it will be a great thing for many people.
Thank you so much, I hope it will be!
CONGRATULATIONS!! 😀
It sucks I have to wait a year before I go to college because everyone makes it sound so exciting.
but…. you know…. I am really happy for you 🙂
good luck for your exams! 🙂
Thanks so much Rashika! Don’t worry, I was jealous as heck too just a year ago – but it will come more quickly than you think. Keep doing what you’re doing and thanks again for reading and commenting.
Congrats! And good luck on your exams!
Thank you on both accounts!
Congratulations and best of luck on exams! The College of William and Mary is indeed beautiful and Colonial Williamsburg is charming. I fell in love with the college and the town the first time I visited, which about halfway through college. Do you know what you want to study?
Thank you! I want to major in English with either a double major in Psychology or two minors in Psychology and Creative Writing. Then I’ll possibly pursue education. It’s all so exciting…
Do the creative writing! You write so well! Wait … do you just apply to the college then choose your courses? That’s very different from the UK, where we apply for a course at a university, and only choose optional and supplementary courses when we get there (e.g. I applied for English, signed up for my 20% mandatory supplementary subject (Medieval Icelandic) when I got there. Still the same system now.
Yep, here in the US we apply for admission to just the college/university then we sign up for courses after we enroll. I had no idea that it worked differently in the UK, but it’s fascinating that both structures work well.
Yay for you and for all the world!!!!! William and Mary are lucky to have you, you special sausage.
You’re making me feel very old, considering I’m already finished college and have a masters degree and all that jazz. Hope you have a good college experience.
I’m extremely lucky to have the school as well – thank you so much Cathal, for everything!
Congratulations on college decision (it really sounds cool… and the building! It’s beautiful!) and good luck for your exams!
I’m going to college (well, in Germany it’s university) in coming fall, too. I decided on Humboldt Uni ( http://www.hu-berlin.de/?set_language=en&cl=en ) but haven’t applied yet.
I’m really happy for you that you have achieved The Moment! You know, the moment when you are secure in flying towards your dreams. And please do tell us more about your life at William and Mary once you start college!
It’s fantastic that you get to decide on a university before applying to it. Woo for us both being college-bound come fall! I’ll probably update my blog as college progresses with news and any interesting tidbits that occur – thank you for reading and commenting!
Congrats!!!! W&M is a *phenomenal* school- the only reason I didn’t apply is because of state school’s notorious lack of FA. I have a couple of friends who are deciding about W&M vs. various other schools. I’m pushing them towards it for a rather selfish reason- it’s only a couple hours from me.
I ultimately ended up choosing Georgetown because as a potential Gov/Econ major, DC seemed like the perfect place- additionally, I love the area and the vibe on the campus as well as the athletics (who can’t help but love a basketball team that just can’t seem to get past the semi-finals in march madness?!). It also came down to monetary reasons… so, I mean, a lot of different factors played in, but all in all, I’m wicked excited about next year. I hope you are too!
Ha ha well selfish reason or not, it’s a great school so I wouldn’t feel guilty suggesting it to them. It’d be quite cool if I somehow met your friends – it would show how small the world can be, I guess.
And, yeah, your major interests suit Georgetown; the DC area is definitely nothing to scoff at if you’re interested in Gov. I’m extremely excited for next year as well and again congratulations on your superb college choice!
It’s quite possible that you could… over the years, I’ve found that “six degrees of separation” seems more like two or three.
I love the DC area with or without a gov interest, so I’m happy that it fits well enough.
Thank you! Once more, I’m sure you’ll have a phenomenal time at W&M!
It’s times like these when I feel “old”… haha
Congratulations!! Excellent news, sounds very exciting. [on your unrelated note, I used to watch the original British Queer As Folk from about 10 years ago, it was amazing, and I totally recommend trying to get hold of it]
Thank you! I’ve heard about the British QAF – perhaps I’ll watch in when I’m done with the US version, though with five seasons that may take a while.
Yes, probably best you concentrate on those exams for now. Good luck!!
Woohoo! Congrats, Thomas! So, you’ll be attending The College of William & Mary and not UPenn? I’m watching QAF now, although I’m stuck at the 11th episode as I have lots of other shows to watch, currently I’m trying to finish the 3rd season of Pretty Little Liars. 🙂 And I love your sweater. Also good luck for the exams and once again, CONGRATS!!!!!!! 😀
Yep, The College of William and Mary is final! Andreas, I’m on the 10th episode, we need to discuss sometime! Brian and Justice = best couple ever. Thanks for all of your support and good luck with all of your endeavors too!
Yep, Brian and Justin is the ‘it’ couple of the series, but Brian can be such an annoying bastard sometimes and that just irked me. I kinda like Michael and Dr. David’s relationship too. They’re just too cute.
Yeah, I love love love Brian and Justin’s relationship, the dynamics behind it are beautiful! Also, we should discuss Michael and Dr. David’s relationship sometime via message, I don’t want to spoil anything for others who may stumble upon this comment thread! But I’m glad to find another QAF fan. (:
Congrats! College is such an exciting step in life! I’m sure you will enjoy it, and will certainly be stretched academically and socially, but come out the better for it. 🙂 Good luck with finalizing all the details!
Thank you! I can’t wait to be stretched. (:
disagree. the most beautiful campus is Wellesley. wish you all the best. I’m sure it was a tough decision.
Michelle
Agree to disagree, then. (; Thanks Michelle, it was tough but I have no regrets!