What I wish I knew in 12th grade—

Sometimes we need to be open to things that are familiar or close to home

My biggest fear in coming to Carolina was that it would not be different enough. Growing up 30 miles from campus, UNC was always written off as “way too close to home.” I wanted to go up north where there were new people – not the same old faces from middle and high school. I wanted a change in scenery (anything but pine trees!). And yes, even though my family told me I was crazy, I wanted rain and cold and snow!

Well anyone from the Triangle area can tell you that the weather fairy granted my wish. Last year gave me ample opportunity to stomp through puddles and frolic in the snow! My friends and I went sledding on cafeteria trays. We strolled through a campus-turned-wonderland, dodging ice-encrusted branches falling along the path. And I read books on the balcony of my dorm to the soft rumble of thunder in the background. However, three major ice storms later, my desire for a "real winter" was more than met. And after a fall, winter, and spring of abnormally high rainfall, I am quite ready for a year of our trademark Carolina blue skies. So far, so good…

Another great thing I learned about Carolina is that it is the first public university in America. While this fact is fun to brag about, it also, incidentally, means that we have beautiful trees! The school goes to great lengths to preserve the trees still standing from our University’s founding (a far cry from the urban sprawl with which I grew up). Most notably is – the Davy Poplar. This ancient monolith stands in the middle of the historic part of campus, and it is said that if the Davy Poplar falls, so too, will the University. So when the poor thing was struck by lightening, we hollowed it out, cemented it to the ground, and held it upright with wire. There are also numerous Davy Poplar Juniors scattered across the quad. While I consider this going a little overboard, it certainly makes campus stunning in the springtime.

But were there new people? Well, I will admit I was worried when I received my roommate assignment and discovered that she lived just across town. But was I ever surprised! We knew we were meant for each other when we both showed up on move-in day with three boxes, each, of mint and chamomile teas. We also learned early on that when we get bored, we both enjoy dancing and belting along with cheesy 80’s love songs. Thinking back, I continually yell at myself for almost discounting someone I had never met! While her city was not new to me, meeting her and her family has led to endless new and exciting experiences.

My fears were almost laid to rest, and then this year, I arrived on move-in day to find that two of our suitemates were – randomly – girls from my high school! But yet again, I found that well-known faces still hide new surprises. While I ‘knew’ these girls from high school, we had very few classes together. At the beginning of the year, I barely knew them beyond their names and faces. Now I look forward to our chats in front of the bathroom mirror, trying on different outfits for Friday night. I love their warm greetings and smiles every time I walk into the suite. And I laugh to myself that we both decorated our rooms with mosquito net canopies! These are girls I would have liked to have known better in high school, and now I have the chance…

People always tell you to be open-minded, but they are usually referring to things that are foreign or far away. I have learned that sometimes we need to be open to things that are familiar or close to home. And as I prepare to move to that other campus this spring (as part of the Robertson Scholars program, I study at both Carolina and Duke University) where they wear another shade of blue, I am taking this lesson to heart. Because you never know what you might find a few miles down the road…