Getting Ready For a New Life by Nathaniel

Getting Ready For a New Life by Nathaniel - August 2022 Scholarship Essay

Academic goals I’ve set for myself in the past were nothing odd of the normal ones: getting good grades, studying for tests over a long period of time instead of cramming, participating in class instead of hiding my face from the teacher looking to call on someone, and excelling the end of the year standardized tests. However, I never would’ve imagined the new goal I have for myself this academic year - to be able to adapt to a new home.
Getting ready to leave my home is never something I enjoy, whether it’d be for vacations, getting up for school in the early morning, or going to a wedding for someone I had no idea existed. Even though it may not be the best feeling, I was always soothed knowing that I’ll come back home at the end of my adventure. However, this time is different. This time, I’m leaving my home for good. I always knew there’d come a day where I’d have to leave my home and start a life for myself out in the real world, but I never thought I’d come so soon. After all, I’m not even 18 yet. As I pack almost everything I own into my suitcase, the start of college is no longer years, months, or days, but rather hours away. Going to Cornell University is no small thing indeed; I have to make sure I don’t disappoint those counting on me to succeed.
With every heartbeat comes a new worry: if I’ll be able to make new friends, if I’m smart enough to compare to my classmates, and overall, if I’ll be able to stay away from home. First there's my mom, my number one supporter through my entire life who stuck with me from the literal second I was born all the way up until now. There was never a day in my life where I couldn’t count on her to help with whatever I needed, from tying my shoelaces to revising my college essays. Then there’s my dad. If I can vouch for anyone to be the most caring and amazing person I’d be him. He doesn’t really talk much, but when he does, both of us have smiles stretching from one ear to the other. My sister, on the other hand, loves to talk. No matter how boring of a day it is, she’ll always figure out something to say and something to do. I’ve never seen a more energetic person roam the world. Lastly, my grandparents. They’re the saints of the home, who dropped everything they had in their home country to give their children a chance at a better and more successful life. Great, now the pressure’s really on me. I finish packing my suitcase and walk towards my front door. I try to take a final look at everything before I leave; I never paid so much attention to the meaning of my home. To me, it was more than just a costly place to sleep at night, but a place where I made bonds and memories, a safe haven where I can go when the world is too much to handle.
After a long four and a half hour drive to the middle of nowhere, I finally arrived, and all alone. It’s much more beautiful than I expected, a horizon of only trees, and a sunset so beautiful even an artist couldn’t recreate it. Looking around campus I gaze at the huge clock tower that stands as my suitcase rolls towards a fancy building. Entering, I start to question if I’ve made the wrong choice in my college, if I should’ve just taken the path all my other friends had and stayed home. I wonder what my friends were doing at the moment, what they decided to do for that day's hangout. The elevator door opens to a narrow hallway. I go down the hall and make a right to room 302. It was a really plain door, and I had nothing better to do than simply look at it. I’ve really made it this far, I think to myself. I read the unique names on the door and see my own. I unlock the door to my suite and sit in the living room. And here it was, my new home. It was eerily silent, empty of the pointless things my sister had to say, empty of the smell of my mom making dinner for the family, and empty of my dad's serene presence. I begin to really process the changes that I’ve experienced, from lying on my bed one night to living in a whole new world in less than a day. Was I used to such sudden change, definitely not. But the first step in allowing change is to not be afraid of letting it occur. Now, I hope that through my academic year I can fill this plain room with memories and bonds too, making longlife friends in what I now call my new home.