Two weeks ago yesterday was my last official day at Henley College before we broke up for study leave, and for the first time in my life, I'm actually sad to leave a place of education. The one great thing about both my primary school and my secondary school was that I spent the whole eight years and five years respectively longing to get out of the place, and so when it came to leaving, I was the one running out of the school without a backward glance while everyone else was crying behind me. But I loved almost every second that I was at college and I find it so ironic that the place I least want to leave is the place I was at for the shortest amount of time.
I've been trying to write this post since the day I left college - the 27th of May 2011. That's over two weeks, and I seem to be unable to finish this. Possibly one of the reasons why I haven't posted anything on this subject yet is because I'm not quite sure what to write... the original purpose of this blog was so that in the future I could look back and remind myself of things that happened during these important years and the way I felt about it all, and a momentous occasion such as this should be documented, but it's just so hard to believe that my days in sort-of-compulsory education (college isn't compulsory, but it's just what most people tend to do) are over; that my days as a child, reliant on my parents, living at home, are all over. Now I have to go out into the world and fend for myself, and as yet I have never experienced a more exciting and yet terrifying prospect.
I have had some really great times at college. I can't believe that's it; that never again will I sit in the language corridor with my friends for an hour before lessons or eat there at lunchtime; never again will I beg said friends to go to Starbucks instead of the library in our frees or hang out with Hannah after English or tutor; never again will we share Starbucks Fridays or Picnic Wednesdays; never again will I complain about walking up to Rotherfield with Hollie (not that I object to walking up with Hollie, but if you saw the hill I'm talking about, you'd agree with me); and especially that never again will I sit with Zoe on the bus and have philosophical conversations or act out random songs in Russian accents (because that's the kind of cool kids we are). We can finally throw away those stupid little homework diaries we all pretended to use but really discarded after the first couple of months. (Have to say, I remember walking through the big college building on my first day with said homework diary, trying to match the room number on the page to the arrows on the signs. I was truly earmarked as a first year.)
So goodbye, Henley. You've been brilliant. I will actually miss you, which is more than I can say for my secondary school... everytime I go past Langtree, something inside me gives a little whoop that I don't have to go there anymore. But in all seriousness: in leaving Henley College I'm not just leaving a place of education. I'm saying goodbye to Henley, the beautiful town which has been home to everything that has happened in my life over the past two years; I'm leaving behind lazy afternoons by the river in the sun, stressing about exams in Starbucks, spending all my money on Bloc Super Chocs (observe - the best hot chocolate in Henley:)
and yes, even getting the train home with Charlotte, skipping the odd lesson on the odd can't-be-bothered afternoon. But most importantly, I'm parting ways with so many people, old friends and new - people I've known all my life and people I've known less than a year.
Lauren - I've known you less than two years, but it seems like you've been a part of our friendship group for as long as I can remember. It seems strange to imagine life without your glorious randomness, your ability to keep a straight face while saying the funniest things, and your wonderfully strange Northern pronunciation, of which we are all so fond of making fun. You're brilliant!
Charlotte, I didn't know you very well before we came to Henley, but I'm so glad that we became friends. I've had so many laughs and more serious conversations with you over the last couple of years, and thank you for that. You're a truly hilarious person and I love having your presence in my life.
Becky... there has never been a moment during my life when I haven't known you. You've been there through every change we've ever had to deal with and though we've both had other close friends, you will always be my oldest friend, and even though I won't see you everyday anymore, nothing can change that. And stop doubting yourself, woman! You're awesome and you know it, so go kick some arse. (Or even ass.)
And of course Zoe... what can I say? That first day I met you on the bus when we were both still in year six, you were so shy, and now look at the madwoman you've become! I have truly loved knowing you and growing from a child into an adult with you (and with Becky, obviously). I'll never forget all the bus journeys, all the times we sang together, all the deep conversations... we've shared an awful lot over the past seven years and I hope we will continue to in the future. Pub time, yes?
I love you all, and I hope that whatever you wish for the future comes true. In ten years when we all meet up and show off our boyfriends/husbands and gloat about the marvellous lives we possess and the shows Lauren's been in and the photos Zoe's taken and the art Becky's got in the National Gallery and whatever Charlotte's decided to do with her history degree and the linguistics theories I've published, we'll look back on now, on the eve of our lives truly beginning, and remember that we spent it together, and wasn't it great?
Molly x
(The title of this post refers to a very cheesy Facebook message that my epic English teacher sent to me after I wrote her an equally cheesy letter. Among other things, she called me her Mini-Me. It pretty much made my life.)
I've been trying to write this post since the day I left college - the 27th of May 2011. That's over two weeks, and I seem to be unable to finish this. Possibly one of the reasons why I haven't posted anything on this subject yet is because I'm not quite sure what to write... the original purpose of this blog was so that in the future I could look back and remind myself of things that happened during these important years and the way I felt about it all, and a momentous occasion such as this should be documented, but it's just so hard to believe that my days in sort-of-compulsory education (college isn't compulsory, but it's just what most people tend to do) are over; that my days as a child, reliant on my parents, living at home, are all over. Now I have to go out into the world and fend for myself, and as yet I have never experienced a more exciting and yet terrifying prospect.
I have had some really great times at college. I can't believe that's it; that never again will I sit in the language corridor with my friends for an hour before lessons or eat there at lunchtime; never again will I beg said friends to go to Starbucks instead of the library in our frees or hang out with Hannah after English or tutor; never again will we share Starbucks Fridays or Picnic Wednesdays; never again will I complain about walking up to Rotherfield with Hollie (not that I object to walking up with Hollie, but if you saw the hill I'm talking about, you'd agree with me); and especially that never again will I sit with Zoe on the bus and have philosophical conversations or act out random songs in Russian accents (because that's the kind of cool kids we are). We can finally throw away those stupid little homework diaries we all pretended to use but really discarded after the first couple of months. (Have to say, I remember walking through the big college building on my first day with said homework diary, trying to match the room number on the page to the arrows on the signs. I was truly earmarked as a first year.)
So goodbye, Henley. You've been brilliant. I will actually miss you, which is more than I can say for my secondary school... everytime I go past Langtree, something inside me gives a little whoop that I don't have to go there anymore. But in all seriousness: in leaving Henley College I'm not just leaving a place of education. I'm saying goodbye to Henley, the beautiful town which has been home to everything that has happened in my life over the past two years; I'm leaving behind lazy afternoons by the river in the sun, stressing about exams in Starbucks, spending all my money on Bloc Super Chocs (observe - the best hot chocolate in Henley:)
Lauren - I've known you less than two years, but it seems like you've been a part of our friendship group for as long as I can remember. It seems strange to imagine life without your glorious randomness, your ability to keep a straight face while saying the funniest things, and your wonderfully strange Northern pronunciation, of which we are all so fond of making fun. You're brilliant!
Charlotte, I didn't know you very well before we came to Henley, but I'm so glad that we became friends. I've had so many laughs and more serious conversations with you over the last couple of years, and thank you for that. You're a truly hilarious person and I love having your presence in my life.
Becky... there has never been a moment during my life when I haven't known you. You've been there through every change we've ever had to deal with and though we've both had other close friends, you will always be my oldest friend, and even though I won't see you everyday anymore, nothing can change that. And stop doubting yourself, woman! You're awesome and you know it, so go kick some arse. (Or even ass.)
And of course Zoe... what can I say? That first day I met you on the bus when we were both still in year six, you were so shy, and now look at the madwoman you've become! I have truly loved knowing you and growing from a child into an adult with you (and with Becky, obviously). I'll never forget all the bus journeys, all the times we sang together, all the deep conversations... we've shared an awful lot over the past seven years and I hope we will continue to in the future. Pub time, yes?
I love you all, and I hope that whatever you wish for the future comes true. In ten years when we all meet up and show off our boyfriends/husbands and gloat about the marvellous lives we possess and the shows Lauren's been in and the photos Zoe's taken and the art Becky's got in the National Gallery and whatever Charlotte's decided to do with her history degree and the linguistics theories I've published, we'll look back on now, on the eve of our lives truly beginning, and remember that we spent it together, and wasn't it great?
Molly x
(The title of this post refers to a very cheesy Facebook message that my epic English teacher sent to me after I wrote her an equally cheesy letter. Among other things, she called me her Mini-Me. It pretty much made my life.)
1 comment:
This is such sweet blog post and I glad you took time writing it. I was on the brink of crying hehe. Yes we have grown up and oh college really has been so amazing. Best days of my life so far. I just is amazing how we have grown up in the last 7 years and we have relied on having things planned out for us and change is exciting but so scary but you captured what I wanted to say in my post perfectly :)
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