Graduation, as many of you may know or expect, is a time filled with mixed emotions. Personally, I have tried to block out all the feelings of anxiousness and sadness by remaining permadrunk all weekend. Now that my four day binge is finally coming to an end, I have a moment to reflect on what was, what is, and what is to come.
The last five years have been amazing. I have learned so much--not only as a professional but as an individual. College has opened my eyes to the privileges I have been given, and it has made me want to work harder because of how fortunate I am. I have developed new interests, new friends, and finally- a backbone. I feel strong, confident, intelligent, and ready to step out into the real world. I feel so grateful and loved. While I know college is a privilege for the truly dedicated, I believe everyone should strive to go to college. It has made me who I am today and has put so much more meaning into life. It has given me the sense that I can accomplish anything and the desire to give back.
I believe that if everyone were educated, the world would truly be a better place. As a nation, we would understand the importance of being informed and opinionated, which hopefully would lead us to be more proactive. We would understand the suffering of other people and be less judge-mental. We would recognize that our time is much more valuable than watching reruns of Jersey Shore or The Real Housewives, and we would become more intimate. We would understand the beauty of the world, other languages, and other cultures, and thus, travel more. We would recognize our potential and worth, and continually strive to be the best possible version of ourself. And while I am certainly proud to say that I have graduated with an engineering degree, I think what I learned about myself along the way is much more valuable.
As for what is and what is to come? Well that’s where the mixed emotions begin to start. I have a job here in SLO, which means I will stay in this small college town and wave as I watch everyone of my friends drive off. I will be surrounded by incoming freshman as I try to establish myself as a young professional, and I will still be hours away from my loved ones. I won’t have the joy of seeing my friends in class everyday, nor will I be able to make fun of my teachers ridiculous comments. So as excited as I am to start my new job and the next chapter of my life, I am saddened; however, I am always brought back to reality when I think of what is to come. Five years ago, I would have never pictured myself at Cal Poly, and it now turns out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. College was everything I dreamed for and so much more. What is to come after that? I can only imagine, but by judging from past experiences, I have a feeling it won’t be too shabby. After all, I’m only 23...it’s primetime baby!
No comments:
Post a Comment