#11 Learning to Listen to People Who Know Better

A while back, I was talking to Luana, who I look to as a third grandmother. As I told her about what was going on in my life, I brought up a guy. She stopped me right there. "Brooke," she told me in her ever-lovely New Zealand accent, "don't be so anxious about that. Girls your age are so anxious. Now's the time to get to know Brooke."

I just couldn't understand. Isn't that what I had done all through high school? I was in college now-I could have it all.

Wrong.

I know who I am. I know what I believe in. I even know a few things I'm good at and a bunch of my flaws. But I haven't a clue of what I'm really like--what's really me and what's a facade for others. And what better place to figure that out than a dedicated campus?

And the guy I'd been talking to Luana about--we're no longer on speaking terms, and good riddance to him. It's not something I'm worried about anymore. I'm 18 and have only ever been on one real date (nothing that happened over Thanksgiving break counts, Mom). I've got time to ease myself into the Game. Everything in due time, right?