Bring Crayons to College

“I thought you’d like this. It’s got all sorts of supplies. And whenever you get tired of all those textbooks and homework, you can take a break and color,” Becky said, smiling as she handed me a plastic box full of crayons, markers, waterpaints, paperclips, erasers, pencils, and numerous other goodies.

“Oh, thank you so much, this is great!” I replied, eyeing the box with its little treasures that a poor college-bound girl could really appreciate. I felt a small lump in my throat as I looked down at all the kids. Becky and I had handled these little rugrats for two years at the after school program. And my last day was going to be sad.

“Megan, are you going to color me pictures when you’re away? You are such a good coloring person. You always stay in the lines and stuff. Will you color me a picture today?” They all seemed to look up at me with their innocent little eyes and I nodded, smiling.

“Of course I’m going to color! I love coloring. I will bring this box of colors and goodies and keep it in my room all year!” I promised them…

That was last year, just around the time I graduated. Becky was not the only one to send me off with a good luck box. My graduating class was small enough (39 kids) for each of us to recieve a huge crate full of goodies like marker boards, envelopes, Ramen-Noodle soup…along with notes from our teachers wishing us good luck. I remember walking in the Home Ec room where we were to line up and get ready for the graduation ceremony and seeing the tables all filled up with the crates… each one with our names on it. It was times like those when I appreciated living in a small town. Everyone cared that much. It meant a lot to me…

I was excitedly awaiting to head off to college that fall, and was fully accepting of the transitions that would follow. But I still remained that kid at heart. I did bring my special “box of goodies” to college. And I did color. I made my friends’ birthday cards by hand, coloring rainbows and all sorts of fun kid stuff with the crayons. They loved them. I used the markers to make little signs that said “Megan and Melanie’s Room” to put on our door. I wrote letters to Britney and Mallory, and sent along my cartoon drawing they loved so much. I colored it with my crayons.

They still have it hanging in their kitchen.

And so, tonight, I sat up in my room, surrounded by the same plastic boxes and piles that surrounded me last year at this time. I dug through drawers and began the proccess of organization and packing.

Sort of a calming feeling…

The rain was falling outside, hitting the window pane. Darkness had slowly dimmed the light, so I had my lamps on in my room with the radio playing. I sung along to music as I sat cross-legged on the floor, separating monster cables for the stereo to my collection of paper clips. My extention cords to my check blanks. Everything going in a separate box for easy access once I moved it.

And there it was, hiding on a shelf full of dust under my desk: my box full of goodies. I reached for it, smiling, and dumped all the contents out on the floor to go through what I still needed. It had everything I would have had to buy again this year. All the pencils, all the post-it notes… and the crayons. I ended up re-packing everything neatly. I was probably going to need those crayons again.

Being a “sophomore” would be different. Second time around. Not as many people worrying about you. They know you can handle it now. No letters every week from the college of your choice telling you about all the awesome freshman orientation stuff. No crates full of goodies from the teachers. No graduation money to go by…..

I guess it’s all part of growing up. Your first year, everyone sends you off with tears and smiles, hopeful wishes, and a box full of crayons. 🙂 Your second year, they know you’ve done it before. So they send you off with a hug and a smile, not as much money, not as much worry, and you’ve got to remember those crayons yourself.