COLUMN: What I knew when I was younger

From Emily Lieff's, "Sassy Peach," Fall '99 From Emily Lieff's, "Sassy Peach," Fall '99As freshman year began winding down, my e-mail account flooded with copies of a forward reflecting on the freshman experience called "Before I came to college I wish I had known." This e-mail summed up the glorified commonalties of the freshman experience, such as: "That it didn't matter how late I scheduled my first class, I'd sleep right through it; that I would go to a party the night before a final; and that friendship is more than getting drunk together." In retrospect, that forward gives me a good laugh and a realization of just how naive I was and just how far I've come. It seems silly now to think that I knew everything at 19. Just three years ago, I thought: · That 22 was really old. · That I'd never pass the language proficiency. · That I'd have a job by graduation. · That I'd always need a quarter to get into the bookstore. · That being the President of the United States meant being respected. · That I'd starve without living next door to Wawa. · That I'd never lose touch with my high school friends. · That a professional wrestler could never have a political career. · That someday I might want an MBA. · That a bathroom wall would be a strange forum for campus debate. · That goal posts weren't portable. · That nothing could top freshman year. · That Cher would never make another comeback. · That Astronomy, Geology and Oceanography seemed like really interesting classes. · That Capri pants were ugly (Actually, I still think they're ugly). · That Penn students were too apathetic to ever hold a rally. · That I'd never find friends as good as the ones I'd made in high school. · That Wharton was really nice for letting College students use their computers. · That Tae-Bo was a Communist leader. · That Beijing served good Chinese food. · That the Balkans were a relatively safe place to live. · That I'd only have to learn the prisoner's dilemma in one class. · That four years would go by slowly. · That Windows 3.1 was good enough. · That Amy Fisher would never get out of jail. · That I'd know at 22 what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. · That I'd eventually figure out what the bag checkers in the library are looking for. · That I wouldn't have to attend any of my friend's weddings until I was at least 25. · That no one would ever, ever want to be a consultant. I know that this list has a very short shelf life. In a few months it will seem as silly as the list from freshman year. However, it does teach one thing -- that learning is not about memorizing formulas or conjugating verbs, but figuring out what it is you still need to learn.