When you are less than a week away from graduating college, you start to think about the past four years and what you went through to get to where you are. As I approach graduation day, I start to look back on all the memories I made through the four years I spent in college. Some memories have been good, others not so good.
In high school, I remember deciding what college I wanted to attend and I was so excited for it. The college I ended up going to wasn’t my first choice, but I am so glad I ended up there because it was all part of God’s plan. If I hadn’t gone to MTSU, I would have never met the man I call my husband, I wouldn’t have seen my sisters grow up and I wouldn’t have met some amazing friends. I couldn’t imagine my life without any of it. God knew exactly where I belonged and even though at the time I was upset about not attending my dream college, the end was all worth it.
Knowing that in less than a week I’ll be sitting waiting for my name to be called to receive my diploma is a feeling I’ll never forget. There are so many emotions going through my mind as it approaches. It is an exciting time, but also, I can’t help but feel a little sad. All I’ve ever known is school and now it’s ending. I’ll be focusing on work, and I’ll even get time for a hobby. My favorite part about graduating is the fact that there will be no homework, no walking to class, no tests, and no more writing papers. I’ll finally be able to relax after a day at work and watch "Grey’s Anatomy" without worrying about homework that is due at midnight.
When I started college, I made new friends and unfortunately I lost those friends, but I always remind myself that they were in my life for a reason and left for a reason. People grow and change in college, and you may grow in a different direction than your friends. You are learning to find yourself and so are they. If I could give one piece of advice to an incoming college freshman it would be to not get down if you lose friends, and remember that you are learning what you want in life and that may require you to lose friends but you will always gain new ones. God puts the right people in our lives at the right time. Although I lost a few friends, God put a pretty great one in my life that I was lucky to have as my roommate for two years. He knew we needed to be in each other's lives. College is your time to find who you are and what kind of friends you want that encourage you to grow as a person.
College taught me responsibility. I moved out on my own my freshman year and it was the best thing I could have done. I learned how to take care of myself and be my own person. It strengthened my character and taught me to be an adult. Looking back on the years, I know it was the right decision. I’m a better person now because of it.
I will miss college in some ways, but I will always hold on to the memories I made through the four years there. I’ll always look back at the pictures of my adventures and feel blessed that I was able to experience them. College was the start of my adult life. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to attend college.
You don’t realize how exhausted you are until it’s all over. You are constantly going and studying that you rarely get to sleep without your brain thinking about tomorrow’s work that is due. The end is just the beginning of a new adventure. This Saturday will be the end of 16 years of school. I’m now feeling like Meredith Grey after a long day at the hospital.
