Melissa Modolo "college is liminal"

To be honest, I really am not a big fan of college. I never looked forward to it and ever since it started, I've been waiting for it to end. When I was thinking about this after class one day I realized that maybe I don't like it because I am in a liminal state. College is definitely liminal. There is nothing "realistic" about it. I mean, in what other part of life to you only live with people close to your age and only be expected to learn and do well on tests. No other part of life evaluates you so frequently and no other part of life places so many people who are the same age all together. It's a weird place to be in life. When I was a kid and all the way up until college, my parents still had a certain amount of control over me. I was always given plenty of freedom and my parents have always treated me like an adult, but I was always aware that in the end, they had the final say. I thought that going to college would make me a full adult. I thought that once I left high school I would make all my own decisions and be on my own. That turned out to not be true at all. In my life after college I will be paying my own bills, working at my own job, and making all my own decisions. In college, however, I still rely on my parents for money and certainly for advice. And although it is all my job to do well (no one is telling me I need to study or do homework), I am still expected to do well. It is interesting that liminal states are so awkward. I know some people love college and when it comes down to it, they love it because of its liminality. In my case, though, I would much rather know where I stand in relation to my parents and other people. This is a long liminal state to be trapped in. At least I only have two years left...