It's true -- I am now a college graduate. It still has not sunk in. Maybe it's because I was told I could graduate without going through the traditional process. Or maybe it's really because it still does not feel real yet, and I have found out that I was graduating so quickly. I am still in shock because I had only just found out that I failed statistics (true story) and I could graduate in the next week. It hasn't felt real yet, but maybe it will at some point; definitely not now
When high school graduation happens, it sinks in quickly because after four years, you can actually be done. College is very different than what is usually taught. With college, it traditionally is four years long, but it's different because to graduate with a degree, you need a certain amount of credits. I've been at St. Joseph's College for 5 years and have 134 credits; not bad when a typical degree requires 128 credits to graduate. I was only nine credits away (thesis, an elective, and retaking statistics) from graduating to get a bachelor of arts in sociology; now I will be getting a bachelor of science in general studies with minors in sociology and business administration.
In the weeks I have found out, there is that question of "now what?" Unlike high school, when we would be preparing to be an adult in college, being a college graduate leaves us with the thought that we now have to be an adult. Everyone's next step is surely finding a job and making a decision if they want to continue on with graduate school. At the moment, my plans are to still write for Odyssey, finishing my internship, and eventually get a job. I still have plans to go to graduate school and obtain a master's in social work (MSW), but I am taking a gap year (or half a year off) before I even continue. Hopefully I would be able to obtain new skills in not only social work, but also with being a disability activist / advocate, and real-life skills during the half-year/year.
Whether you've graduated years ago, or only recently, congratulations and good luck in what you may be doing now, or what you are planning to do. For everyone who is graduating in the next year or so -- you are almost there. You can do this.