Here There Be Dragons

Completion

This is my handwriting.
Remember day one of orientation week? Here there be dragons? Wow, that feels like a long time ago.
As soon as I got back to my dorm after that embarrassment in the cafeteria, I dug my dry erase markers out of a deep box and stood in front of my whiteboard.
I pondered for a few minutes. Once things go on my whiteboard, they don't come off for a long time; that's just how I work.  Did I really want to look at this saying for a whole semester?
Yes. Because life is hard and no one knows what will happen next.
Here there be dragons: you might hit a rough patch or dragon that sends you reeling. That is one of the risks of living life.
On the other hand, what was on the other side of Columbus' map? Not a warning, but an undiscovered opportunity.
The last week of regular classes, I ended up in the hospital.  This was totally unexpected.  I appreciate my friends' concern, but it was an extremely inconvenient time to have to take a break - especially when the end of the semester was ten days away.  Those three days were the worst days of my existence.
May you find the opportunity; for I found the dragon.

As I write this I am on my final flight back to my home (yay! I get to see my doggos!).  This first semester of college at G- College has been wonderful overall. I have made two close friends, numerous acquaintances, and even won the respect of a few professors, I think.  I have started my life down the path of a music educator.  I have lived through five months away from immediate family, only seeing extended family four short times.
Was it what I expected? Yes, surprisingly.  I was warned to expect dragons after all; while one expects dragons, a bad grade doesn't seem quite as difficult!
What is my advice? Get out of your family's hair, my friends. You will appreciate the space. (And I have a feeling they will appreciate you more. My family cleaned the house for me yesterday. According to my brother, Mom is cleaning like she's hosting a party!) I'm a millennial; there is no way I'm moving into my family's basement because the freedom of eating a snack at 3 AM is just so great!  If you can live in a dorm, you can live in a studio apartment, and those don't cost a whole lot.  So advice: move out. 🙂
These months have been great. I'm not goingto let three days in a hospital ruin my future years at college.
Anyway, this has been very random. They say you should end an essay by reaching to a higher point rather than a summary. I'm afraid I will disappoint that rule...