There’s a first for everything, and even though I’ve always been a fan of salads and green foods, I’ve never experienced the overload I’ve been consuming in my first two weeks of college. Now I know what you’re thinking: “Did she just say her first two weeks of college are best summed up to.. eating salad?”

Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. If we’re being honest, I’m lacking in the typical teenage department these days: finding myself wearing comfortable clothes, doing math homework on the weekend, and going to bed at 10 pm.

More importantly though, I’m also not pretending. I’m not here for the dark, sweaty parties at 2 am in an undetermined location. I’m not here to flirt or be the most outgoing, bubbly, well-liked girl on campus. I’m not here to impress anyone, and by determining this the first day I arrived, I’ve gotten the opportunity to learn more about myself and what I actually like to do.

And if eating a salad on the front steps of my dorm out of a paper takeout box under the first stars of the night is what I like to do, then so be it.

The dining hall situation has always been questionable, thanks to heavy choices of American foods (Hamburgers, creamy pasta, thick chinese sauce, unlimited nacho bar, so gross right?). The phrase “the freshmen fifteen” seems to ring a bell with most around here, but the soft serve ice cream machine is just so tempting… I’ve seen people put it on top of their Belgian waffles at 9 am.

But I’ve always tended to be an outlier, so the majority of my plate is filled with leaves or vegetables (and ranch dressing of course). However, as the two weeks ticked by, I got bored of eating the same old thing at the same old time at the same old sticky table. I didn’t have to keep that up, I was in charge of my own fate now, after all. College is about finding your independence, gaining weight, and testing your limits (one of the three in particular resonates most strongly with me, you can guess which.)

So my individualistic, healthy, solitary, thriving self is writing to you while sitting outside my dorm, enjoying the late August dusk and a spinach salad from a box. And you know what? This may not be what I expected, and I may not be doing what I’m expected, but I’m happy with it.

Yours sincerely,

Maddie