"The Best Four Years of My Life"

Ever since I can remember adults have ALWAYS talked extensively about "the best four years of their lives" aka COLLEGE. I went to a prep school growing up that was very college oriented and looked forward to the experience that I would soon come to know as "the best four years of my life". I had two older sisters ahead of me, one who went to Connecticut College in New London and the other who was in The School of Foreign Service at Georgeton University. I visited both of them and was enamoured by things that I saw. They had tons of events to attend such as football and basketball games. They had a myriad of parties to go to on all different nights of the week. They made their schedules so they could have three day weekends every week. But mostly, I was estatic by the fact that I would be surrounded by boys. I started at an all girls school in Kindergarten and had been there my entire life. Don't get me wrong, I am in love with my high school and would not have done it any other way. But, I definitely could not wait to be introduced to a world of boys beyond just the weekends but actually be able to debate with them during classes.

As I finally reached my senior year of high school, it was time for me to decide where I wanted to apply. I put all my eggs in one basket and applied early to GW. I knew I had a better chance of getting in as an early applicant and I wanted to be in Washington D.C.. The day I received an email from them I sat quietly in my room and opened it. My fate was decided in this email and I had nerves flowing in all directions in my body. When I read "Congratulations" I didn't need to read further before I started jumping up and down screaming. My mom and brother rushed into my bedroom and we jumped in a circle for 5 minutes expressing the joy of finally getting into college, an achievement I had been working toward for my entire life.

But as I sit here, almost finished my second semester of senior year, I am happy to say that these were not the best four years of my life. In fact, it took me a year and a half to even begin liking this place. I know a lot of that has to do with the fact that I grew up in an area that is different from most. Many of my new peers at this school told me they had no intentions of going back to their hometown after graduating college, something I have intended to do and still plan on doing since I was in the middle school. I have for sure made some of the best friends ever here in college and have had some of the most amazing experiences, but what kind of life would I be living if the best four years are soon to be over? I loved my childhood but I couldn't wait to move onto college. I love college but I cannot wait to see what my future holds. I think life is meant to be full of many different experiences. I think that if you pinpoint one point of your life and say those will be your best years, then you are preventing yourself from having tons of different amazing experiences.

Last week I started training at a potential internship with BBC. After the first day of only being there for four hours, I could not wipe a smile off my face. I called everyone in my phone book on my way back so excited to tell them of the amazing four hours I had just experienced. I went back again another day that week and once again left with an incredible excitement. It made me realize that college has given me the ability to find my passion which is writing. I love to write and have only expanded on my skills since I have been here. BBC offers a look into broadcast journalism. If I had never gone to GW there's a good chance I would never have become so interested in journalism and therefore would not have been able to explore the many options that journalism holds. I am in the process of applying to jobs for next year and each time I read a job description that entices me I become more excited for what is in store for after graduation. I feel that each stage in my life is a stepping stone for the next. I hope you agree with me that while college is INCREDIBLE and there will be a plethora of things that I will miss here, I know that my journey only continues and for that I am overjoyed.

-Justine Karp