And the memories ride the wind to a place far away...

It seems too late to be worrying, but I really don't want to leave. I love this place so much I'm about to cry. I love the trees in our backyard, the overgrown path down to the golf course. The gate in our fence with its rusted chain. The side yard littered with recyclable bottles and our garage filled with hidden treasures from my childhood. I love the pond in the golf course, with the ducks I used to feed every week when I was little. I love the shops of downtown Danville, Hacienda Plaza and Ulferts in Dublin. I love going bowling and watching movies with my friends, if only because we couldn't think of anything better to do. I love San Ramon, despite its lack of social hangouts.

I want to go back to Cal High, play Scrabble with Mrs. Dillman, get life lessons from Mr. Hight, listen to Mr. White's ever-interesting life stories. I want to go on frantic drives to Chipotle during lunch break to make it back for fifth period. I want to chill at Yogurtland and go biking on the Iron Horse Trail. I want my evening Colorguard practices, my Mock Trial scrimmages, my Friday night Chinese school runs.

I'm not ready to leave this town of memories, of twelve years of growing up. Of highs and lows, from the playground to chilling at Round Table playing Publish or Perish. I'm not ready to take on the real world - or at least, be a step closer to it. I want to stay with my friends, the ones I've known for years, to sit in utter silence and find it comforting. I want this familiarity. I want this safety.

But I'm excited for Princeton. For that air of perpetual nerdiness. That intellectual vitality, that love of learning. I'm ready to embrace four years of being a Tiger, of strolling down Nassau, studying at Firestone. I'm ready for the snow and the castles. I'm ready for karaoke nights and card games and Bent Spoon.

I'm scared, and I'm sad, but I'm ready. And when I look around and see the black and orange, embracing my life as a Tiger, I'll remember my past as a Grizzly.