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Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009

Learning to live on my own

Most of my college applications have been submitted. My essays have been written, and my nails have been chewed off by stress. I sit back and take a big breath.

All I have to worry about now is the SAT. Fine, I can handle that. I am so ready to enter college and become independent. The word independence sounds like sweet music. On the other hand, that word is heavier than a blue whale.

I live a spoiled life now that I think about it. I wake up in a nice bed, sleep in comfy pajamas, eat all the food I want, drive an expensive car, attend a pricey school and go on enjoyable vacations. I am not asked to cook, clean or even make up my own bed. I live in paradise.

Will I live that way next year? Probably not.

When I walk through those large doors next fall, I will be in charge. I will have to learn how to cook. The cafeteria food may be good and the restaurants could be outstanding, but nothing beats a home-cooked meal. And I won’t be getting one from my mother, so that leaves me to experiment in the kitchen. I can foresee that holidays are going to be heaven for me.

I’ve gotten sick more frequently over the last two years than usual. My parents think it’s because of the stress. If this holds true, then in college I’ll be throwing up every week. I am all for survival of the fittest, but can I survive alone?

My mom always checked on me, gave me the right medicines, made sure I drank plenty of liquids and gave me a “throw-up bucket” if I needed it.

No one is going to do that for me in college. I’ll have to recover alone. All my mother can do is text me, “get well soon.”

I do not know how to clean a bathroom or any room for that matter. The best I could do at this point in my life is to vacuum the floor and stuff the clutter under my bed.

I need to learn which solution is used for what and how to clean a toilet. Maybe there is a toilet cleaning handbook for dummies I can buy.

Clothes are another issue. My clothes are not all solid colors, so which ones are considered whites and which ones darks?

There is so much to learn, and this means I have a long summer ahead of me. Hopefully most of you teens know more than me. If not, I wish you the best of luck. We’re going to need it.

Shreeya Khurana, a senior at Stratford Academy, is an associate editor for the Teen Board.