During a recent campus visit, an admissions officer spoke passionately about the vibrant spectrum of students at a particular college. Their diverse backgrounds and interests create an exhilarating environment where students inspire each other to reach new heights. Throughout the visit, I found myself enthusiastically urging (or perhaps pestering) my daughter to embrace all the remarkable experiences that college has to offer.
She’s primarily interested in small liberal arts schools, just like the one I attended. I can’t help but extol their virtues, while she rolls her eyes and responds, “Mom, you don’t need to convince me about liberal arts schools.”
I was brimming with excitement for her to dive into all those experiences—lazy afternoons on the quad, reading beneath trees, late-night discussions that might spill into a bathroom floor, or singing along to folk music.
As we strolled through the campus and dorms, I couldn’t resist pointing out flyers for glee clubs and dance competitions—activities I know she’d love but rarely has time for in high school. There were even more progressive political clubs than what her high school offers back home. “Yes, Mom. I see,” she said, gently swatting my hand away from the flyers for what felt like the hundredth time while the tour guide continued speaking.
Truthfully, my concern about what she does or doesn’t engage in during her college years is quite minimal. She’s a go-getter with values I admire, and I trust that she’ll seize incredible opportunities wherever she lands.
What weighs on me more are my own wistful feelings about missing out on those choices, longing to be part of the audience for all those enticing flyers that scream, “Choose me! Choose me!”
After the tour, we zipped home for my first rehearsal with a new choir. Our car ride was filled with lively discussions, fueled by Broadway soundtracks, about her excitement for the school’s renowned guest speakers, study abroad programs, and diverse student body. But as I entered the rehearsal space, I was met with a culture shock—surrounded by silver hair, sweater sets, and polyester pants. I sighed inwardly, thinking, “Where are the fresh ideas, the youthful idealism?” Oh wait! That’s my daughter’s new world, not mine.
As we began singing, snippets of conversation floated around between musical phrases. I learned that the woman next to me taught music at a Christian school, which opened the door to a wealth of ideas and impressive skills.
I quickly realized that my time away from choral singing meant I had to reacquaint myself with it. I hadn’t sung in a choir regularly since high school, and the thrill of harmonies was exhilarating, yet each musical phrase felt like a puzzle I was trying to piece together. After an hour of squinting at the sheet music and struggling to hear the pitch of the singer beside me, I felt a pang of nostalgia for my college days.
Back then, I embraced a whirlwind of experiences—philosophy, English, enough French to navigate abroad, musical theater, dance classes, and just the right mix of math and science to graduate. I sought to major in “Life,” becoming a jack-of-all-trades, all while supporting fellow students through tutoring and being a resident assistant.
Reflecting on my current life, I see that it’s not so different from those days. As a freelance writer and editor, I’m constantly creating for various publications and learning from an eclectic mix of clients. Occasionally, I teach writing and have the privilege of directing, choreographing, and acting in community theater. My passion for fitness is expanding into senior aerobics and Zumba instruction too. I’m still majoring in Life, and I’ll always be a Jane-of-all-trades. I even managed to snag a tiny solo in the choir performance by the end of the season. Perhaps college is all about discovering what you love, while adulthood means remembering to seek out the “flyers” or even creating your own.
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Summary:
In this reflective piece, Emma Johnson shares her experience visiting her daughter’s potential college, highlighting her own nostalgia for the college experience while encouraging her daughter to embrace new opportunities. She realizes that her own life is still filled with diverse pursuits, akin to her college days, and that adulthood is about actively seeking out enriching experiences.