Upon starting my job in Ohio this summer, I realized that there is so much I have not yet learned about being an adult, despite my experience at college. This summer marks my first time in an apartment, and I think I’ve had four major experiences throughout my four weeks here:
- I’ve lost my keys – twice. Both times, people around me worked very hard to help me find them, and both times, they were quickly found. Both times I told myself I’d buy a lanyard for them, yet here I sit, lanyard-less (but with my keys!).
- I’ve also learned the value of relinquishing the need for complete control. Although preparing my meals for the week on the weekend and packing my bag for work the night before help relieve some stress, there are so many things that happen beyond my control. After arriving to the airport well in advance after a weekend at home (as I had carefully planned), I had a four-hour flight delay that resulted in me arriving back to Ohio at 12 am. I walked to my car in a dimly lit parking garage, to find that my car would not start. I couldn’t help but laugh – after a stressful flight, it seemed fitting that my car would also give me problems. When a call to AAA resulted in a 2 hour wait, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the airport had a car-jumping service. I certainly hadn’t prepared for that type of adventure, but I definitely gained an appreciation for all the times when my plans go more smoothly. And after some solid nights of sleep, I now begin fifth week fully recovered and well-rested.
- Though I’m not particularly interested in horses, I took a weekend trip to the horse capital of the country, Kentucky. Two of my friends are pictured above – the natural beauty I witnessed on this trip really impressed me. On the way home, I stopped at a church for a Saturday night vigil Mass. At that parish they ask visitors to raise their hands so they can announce their names and where they are from. And while I’m not proud to admit that I was too shy to do so, I was filled with joy at the warm, welcoming gesture. It’s so easy to ask someone their name, yet so often I neglect to do so.
- And finally, most importantly, I’ve come to recognize how precious the moments spent with family and friends are. Being able to talk to the people I care about most over the phone or over FaceTime has made me feel a little less like I’m hundreds of miles away from them. Yet still, nothing compares to late night conversations with my roommates or sitting on the couch doing crossword puzzles with my mom. No matter where I go, I know I will always carry those precious moments with me in heart.
Anne Marie Crinnion ’20 is a Psychology concentrator in Dunster.