August 3, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Teen Talk

When two of my closest friends moved away after my sophomore year of high school, I was devastated. My mother insisted that something good might come of it; it might make it easier to separate from friends when I went off to college.
But here I am, six weeks away from leaving for college on the east coast, and I’m once again dreading saying goodbye to friends. I realize that we can video chat and Skype and that our friendships are not ending, but merely changing. But using technology to communicate will be poor substitutes for the aimless drives along San Vicente that inevitably end up in heart-to-hearts, culminating in laughter and a boba. I know I will make friends in college, but it will be a long time before we speak in short-hand and complete each other’s sentences.
While I’m sure I’ll get used to having a roommate (and who knows, she might be terrific), I will miss time alone, my privacy, and the ability to play music when I want to or turn on a light without considering if it might disturb another person.
While the cafeteria at the college I am going to may be better than most, I don’t expect anyone to ask me what I want for dinner. Unlike my parents, who catered to my food aversions, the cafeteria staff will be unaware and unconcerned with my distaste for tomatoes and peas. Discreetly, I will actually have to pick these abominations out of the dishes I am served.
Everyone raves about the wonders of having season changes back east. I will miss wearing sandals all year round and will resent having to wear layers of clothing. I liked defying my mother, who, because she is usually cold, always suggests I wear a sweater.
But, of course, what I will miss the most are the people in my daily life. There’s a family for whom I have been baby-sitting for the last four years. Seeing the two adorable boys grow up has been a constant joy, and I cherish the strong relationships I have forged with their wonderful parents. My lifetime next-door neighbor is the warmest woman imaginable. Sometimes I’ll hear her infectious laugh emanate from her back porch, and it just fills me with delight.
I’ll even miss my own family.
Everyone insists that, after a few short weeks, I will be accustomed to college life and will be far too busy to miss my life back home. I will make new friends, discover new interests, and add snow boots and winter coats to my wardrobe. I will eventually acclimate to the freezing cold and get used to having family and friends in different time zones. However, as hard as I may try, I doubt that I will ever conquer my aversion to tomatoes and peas.

Related Posts

Dr. Jane Goodall Speaking at Youth Event Wednesday at Temescal Park

September 27, 2022

September 27, 2022

Seven Arrows Elementary hosting event Wednesday for students from around region Seven Arrows Elementary, an independent kindergarten through 6th grade...

Thousands of UCLA Students Return to Campus in Westwood

September 22, 2022

September 22, 2022

By Bill Kisliuk/UCLA Newsroom UCLA welcomes an outstanding group of nearly 6,500 freshman and 3,700 transfer students in fall 2022,...

UCLA Ranked No. 1 Public University by U.S. News & World Report for Sixth Straight Year

September 14, 2022

September 14, 2022

UCLA shares the top honor among public schools this year with UC Berkeley UCLA has been the nation’s most applied-to...

UCLA International Institute Receives $8 Million in Federal Funding

August 23, 2022

August 23, 2022

Title VI funding comes from the U.S. Department of Education  Six centers of the UCLA International Institute have been awarded...

New Summer and Fall Programs Available at Santa Monica College

June 17, 2022

June 17, 2022

Santa Monica College hosted an open house event showcasing its new classes for the summer and fall semesters along with...

UCLA Class of 2022 Returns Within-Person Graduation

June 14, 2022

June 14, 2022

Alumna Katelyn Ohashi delivered the keynote address at the first full-scale, in-person commencements at Pauley Pavilion since the pandemic Alison...

Interview: LAUSD School Member Nick Melvoin. The Teacher That Puts Kids First!

June 7, 2022

June 7, 2022

By Nick Antonicello If you didn’t know any better, you would think LA school board member Nick Melvoin was twenty-points...

Interview: LAUSD School Member Nick Melvoin. The Teacher That Puts Kids First!

June 2, 2022

June 2, 2022

By Nick Antonicello If you didn’t know any better, you would think LA school board member Nick Melvoin was twenty-points...

Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School Unveiled

May 24, 2022

May 24, 2022

The Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School was created in partnership with Santa Monica College, the City of Santa Monica,...

Gymnast, Activist Katelyn Ohashi to Deliver UCLA College Commencement Address

April 21, 2022

April 21, 2022

The UCLA alumna will speak at all three ceremonies June 10 in Pauley Pavilion Jonathan Riggs/UCLA Newsroom Award-winning gymnast, activist...

UCLA Department Ranks No. 1 Among Public Institutions

April 5, 2022

April 5, 2022

Education Department is third among all colleges and universities  By John McDonald/UCLA Newsroom The Department of Education at the UCLA...

Outdoor Transitional Pre-K Harnesses the Power of Nature to Teach STEAM

February 11, 2022

February 11, 2022

Roots and Wings Pre-K School Teaches Kids Using STEAM Method  By Susan Payne Nestled between the Santa Monica mountains and...