I graduated high school early, with the intention of going to college early, so I could graduate college early. Makes sense, right?

I pushed through all of my courses and did summer school every semester in pursuit of graduating early. That did not happen. Last year, I got very sick and discovered that I have five autoimmune diseases, which meant I had to put my fast-paced schedule on hold, much to my dismay.

I eventually got back on track, enrolled back into school, and continued on my path. Fast forward a year, and I am here. I am meeting with my guidance counselor to graduate in a few weeks when I blurt out that I want to add a minor. Shocked and a bit taken back he questions my intentions. I tell him that I am just not ready yet. I am not ready to enter the workforce and leave behind a school that I love so much just yet. My long hours and training led me here and here is just not quite all there with graduating.

I love my school, and I will declare that unashamedly.

Also, I love learning. So, if I can continue learning a bit more while finishing off my run at the best school in the world, why not?

I am super nostalgic. I miss things before they leave. I loved high school despite the popular hate sentiment that most teenagers have towards it. I had to switch high schools about midway through, so that helped me say goodbye to my favorite one and ease me on into the transition of letting go. When I attended the high school I switched to, it didn’t feel the same. So, I knew that graduating early to put me in a school that I felt like I belonged would not prove to be a difficult task.

So, I find myself here, wrapped up in what would have been my last undergraduate finals week and enjoying the fact that I still have another semester to enjoy all of this stress — a bonus semester if you will.

I am okay with not graduating with my peers because I am graduating on my time, and that’s what matters most to me.