I just recently graduated from Frostburg State University, and as I was sitting in the ceremony among the rest of my peers, I was feeling weird. Everyone is getting super giddy and throwing their fists in the air like Judd Nelson circa "The Breakfast Club" because they knew that was probably the final time they would ever have to experience college ever unless they were visiting for fun for, say, Homecoming.

But then there’s me, sitting there, and I'm honestly not as excited as they all are. I mean, of course I am excited. I just got my first college degree, and I worked super hard for it. But then I just kept thinking to myself…. "I go back to school on Monday." My graduation celebration is short lived because I'm deciding to go back to college for one more year.

Frostburg offers a Masters in the Arts of Teaching Program where I get to complete a highly extensive program in about 12-18 months. Basically, I get to graduate exactly a year after I graduate with my Bachelor's then with my Master's in Education. While I am extremely thankful to complete my graduate work in a year versus several years, I am very nervous about this program, not only because it's all so quick, but also because it's so different from undergraduate and I'm personally worried about succeeding.

Another tricky thing about going right back school immediately after

graduating is the fact that I get to see all of my friends start to enjoy their summer, and then there's me, going to classes during the day and sometimes night. Plus, I'm trying to keep my part time job while doing school this summer too, so that's hopefully not a struggle in itself. Yes, I should be able to have fun this summer and enjoy myself, but I have to be strategic because I have graduate classes to attend. Classes are very important, but enjoying the summer and having some break is important too.

Summer classes are not always a drag. What makes them painful is falling behind in work that then has to be caught up on, and I know I want to complete these classes as soon as possible so I can enjoy the bit of my summer that I can. The same thing applies when I continue my graduate classes in the fall and spring. They all have to be kept up with in order to succeed.

Now, this is in no ways me complaining about this program, because I am so incredibly thankful to be a part of it in order to earn my Master's in a year. And I know I can do it. The only thing that sucks for me and all of the other fellow graduates is that we graduated after four or more years of hard work to get our bachelor’s degrees to then go back at it and attend class two or three days later. While everyone else gets a sigh of relief after they walk across the stage, I get a quick breath and then I get to think about all I have to do to prepare for classes this summer.

College graduates going back to college do not get the luxury of a break because we do make a commitment to ourselves and our education, and we totally get that because we made the decision to go back to school. However, it still stinks that while all of our friends get to go on cruises, or overseas, or even just to the beach, we have to try to stay close to home in order to attend class and get all of our assignments completed and in on time. I mean, I even had to change my plans to visit my boyfriend twice just because I’m back at school this summer and I have to be at class.

Opening another chapter of school after immediately after closing one is a blessing and a curse. I’m thrilled to say that in a year I will be 23 and already have my Masters so I can become a teacher, but doing graduate school right away is also a curse because my first college graduation is celebrated for a short time or has to be put on hold so I can begin this next chapter in my life. Either way, more college already after some college is one fast ride, and only the strongest survive, so good luck to all my fellow friends continuing their education right after they graduate with a Bachelor's degree! We can do it!