My day consisted of two graduation ceremonies (one for my department and the other a university-wide event), and a nap that was followed by hurriedly packing all of my belongings for the 3 a.m. drive across state. I am a firm believer that you never know how much stuff you own until you're forced to box it all away and find a new home for it.
Since returning to the eastern part of the state I've been plagued with questions about jobs, my future and having to move on. As you can probably guess from my use of the word "plagued" that I am not too fond of this personal epidemic. I would love to tell people that I was working for XYZ company for the summer, that I wanted a job doing ABC for the next two years before I move to INSERT CITY, but the truth is I don't really know what's supposed to happen next. It's somehow liberating and exciting, as well as constrictive and scary.
Despite what college students may want we are not provided a step-by-step guide to post-graduate success. There is no one way to reach your goals, everyone's path is different, and right now my path has directed me to endless on-line job searches.
As for moving on from college life I won't miss the homework, the exams, the late nights of studying, the late nights I worried I didn't study or do enough homework, justifying expensive bar tabs as a way to deal with difficult professors, the stress eating, hair-loss and just generally questioning my existence at college.
But, I will miss MY APARTMENT where there wasn't a curfew, a full-sized bed and 15 feet from the nearest bar. I will also miss my various friends who come from all corners of the Earth, those supportive professors who validated my existence at college, the learning environment, the cheap alcohol, my friends, school spirit based holidays, socially acceptable Netflix binging, napping in the library (both intentional and unintentional), my friends, "Mario Party" parties which consisted of at least 6 unplanned hours of Nintendo 64 in a residence hall community room, late-night Walmart runs, late-night Sheetz visits, going to Pittsburgh/Greensburg/Blairsville randomly on the weekend, creative college student meals, meeting new people, being 5 beautiful hours away from family drama and my friends.
I am sad my college experience is over. If I could start from the beginning to do it over I would. It was the most transformative period in my life. At 18 years-old I had no idea what to expect from the next four years of my life, but now that it's over I'm glad I went. Walking onto that campus I was a painfully shy teen who had very little idea who she was. Now I am a young woman with drive and no plan, wondering what now?
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