Leaving from home and exploring one's own dreams are a very important part of maturing. Though, the physical separation from home is for some a difficult transition to college life. What are those things one takes for granted while living at home, and attending high school? What changes does one face upon entering college?
Just think of all the times the alarm clock did not go off, and Mom was there to make sure school was still reached on time. When the alarm clock fails to go off at college, then the first class of the day is simply missed. At home breakfast is made to order: eggs, bacon, pancakes, or even French toast. In college one finds a particular meal that is edible, and must stick with it. A cabinet could be opened at home and a variety of tasty foods are readily available. In college a meal card is swiped though a machine upon entering the cafeteria, and the word "tasty" rarely enters the mind.
Mom is at home to make sure the dishes are put away after the meal by everyone; dish duty is passed along each night. The tray is simply handed over to pairs of hands waiting to clean the dishes at college. Nutrition is a factor at home, and Mom creates meals with that in mind. A new food group sprang to life upon entering a residence hall: Mountain Dew, Doritos, Ben & Jerry's, Oreos, the list could go on and on.
Privacy is always available at home; there is somewhere to read, write, listen to music, or to just rest. Dorm life is a harsh reality to college, and the only time the room is empty is on a Thursday night. At home a bedroom is somewhere to keep all personal belongings; there is a particular space for everything to fit. Space efficiency becomes a survival tactic in college. When at home there is no worry of someone coming into the bedroom unless permission is given to enter. In college a day without at least ten random visitors is considered boring.
At home, family was the only people living inside the house. In college the entire floor becomes family. The phone is the link of communication between friends in high school; e-mail becomes a second language in college. Conversations at home often revolve around the evening news; while at school, it is totally the opposite.
In high school going to bed at midnight is late; asleep by 2:30 a.m. is an early night in college. At home a bed is somewhere to sleep, where in college it turns into a desk, table, couch, and anything else one can imagine. The front door was rarely locked at home, and if it was there was always a hidden key. Keys have never been so important than at college, and they seem to be lost more than ever before.
High school starts and ends at a set time. Classes in college ...the later the better. Fire alarms are cool in high school; everyone loves to get out of class. They are no longer amusing at college, and even worse when the snow starts to fly. In high school teachers are always in their classrooms, and fairly easy to find. College Professors are like celebrities; there are so many people looking for them, yet they are nowhere to be found. Teachers check to make sure all books are covered in high school; professors could care less if Disney pictures covered the pages. High school is free; college is filled with expenses one never thought possible.
Showers at home are a simple walk to the bathroom. However, it is a process at college to take a shower; it involves gathering up a shower basket, towel, and sandals. The bathroom at home has a towel to wipe hands on, and even some soap to wash them. At college there is no soap or paper towels; it is a matter of memory to bring the items from the dorm room to the bathroom. The main concern at home is the toilet seat being left up by the previous user. In the college forget hoping they put the toilet seat down; just pray they flush!
College life is an experience one can never forget. The memories of high school still linger in every college student’s thought, but there are so many other issues to deal with while attending college. Stress is a word that no high school student can fully understand until entering college. There are some similarities to home life and college life, but the differences seem infinite. Though, college life may seem adventurous, every college student knows exactly how good it feels to go back home.
离开家去追寻自己的梦想是日臻成熟的一个很重要的部分。然而，这种与家实实在在的分离是向大学生活的一种艰难的过渡。一个人住在家里的时候乃至上中学期间都觉得是理所当然的事情究竟是哪些呢？进入大学后需要面对怎样的变化呢？
就想想过去多少次虽然闹钟没响，而妈妈却总是会确保你能准时赶到学校；在大学里闹钟没响的话，不用说，那一天的第一堂课就错过了。在家里早餐是现成弄好的：煎蛋、熏猪肉、薄饼，甚至还有法式面包；在大学里你发现某一餐是能吃的，还必须忍耐。在家里橱门随时都可以打开，里面各种美味食物信手可拈；在大学里你在机器上刷卡进入食堂时，你几乎难以联想到“美味”这个词。妈妈在家里总是在每个人吃完后把碗碟收起来，每晚每个人轮着洗碗；在大学里只是把餐盘递到一双双等着拿去清洗盘子的手中。营养是家里的一个要素，妈妈在做每一顿饭时都把它考虑进去；一进入学生宿舍，一个新的食物群就展露了生机：激浪饮料、多力多滋玉米片、本杰里冰淇淋、奥利奥饼干，还有很多很多。
在家里总会有自己的隐秘空间，有地方看书、写字、听音乐，或仅仅是休息；进了大学，寝室生活是个严酷的现实，只有在星期四的晚上，寝室才会空无一人。在家里，卧室是存放个人物品的地方，每样东西都有一个合适安置的空间；在大学里，空间效能成了一项生存策略。在家的时候不被允许的情况下从不用担心有人会走进卧室；在大学里，一天没有至少十个随意的来访者就会显得很无聊。
在家里，生活在房子里的只有家人；在大学里，整一楼层成了家庭。在中学里，电话是朋友之间沟通的纽带；在大学里，电子邮件成了第二语言。在家里，交谈总是围绕着晚间新闻；而在学校，正好相反。
在中学里午夜上床睡觉是很晚了；在大学里凌晨2:30睡觉算早的。在家里，床是睡觉的地方，而在大学里，它变成了书桌、台子、长沙发，以及你能想象的任何其他东西。在家里前门很少上锁，如锁上的话，总有个备用钥匙；在大学里，钥匙总是非常重要，它们似乎总比以前丢得多。
中学里上课总在规定的时间开始和结束，而大学的课……越晚越好。中学里听到火警很酷，每个人都爱离开课堂；在大学里这不再好玩，更糟的是当雪花开始飞舞也无动于衷。在中学里老师们总是在教室里，轻而易举就能找到；大学里的教授像名人，有那么多人在找他们，而他们总是无处可寻。中学里老师们检查确保所有的书学生都看了，而教授们就算书页上画满了迪斯尼图画也很少来过问。中学是免费的，而大学总是有你想不到的费用。
在家淋浴只是走进浴室这么简单，然而在大学里去淋次浴可是一个过程：需要收拾起浴篮、毛巾和凉鞋。家里的浴室里总有一块擦手的毛巾，甚至还有洗手的肥皂；在大学里没有肥皂和纸巾，把这些东西从寝室带到浴室是件一定得记住的事。在家里最挂心的是坐便器座圈常被前面用过的人翻起；在大学里别指望她们放下座圈，只祈祷她们放水冲洗吧！
大学生活是一个人永远难忘的一段经历。虽然对中学的记忆仍萦绕在每位大学生的脑海，但进入大学后，有那么多其他的问题要去应对，“压力”这个词没有几个中学生会理解，直到进了大学他们才会真正懂得。家庭生活和大学生活有些相似的地方，但差别似乎是无止尽的。不过，正是因为大学生活可能有的冒险性，才使得每个大学生都真切地明白回到家里的时候感觉有多好。
（雨 滴译）
