At 4:28 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 2016, my name was called. I walked across the stage, shook the hand of President Dr. Don Meyer and took my diploma. I have now spent approximately 52 hours as a college graduate.
People have been asking me how I feel, and I have honestly been struggling to come up with an answer. I decided that I needed a break, so I took today to relax. Later in the evening I decided to go grocery shopping because there was nothing in my fridge. I walked through the aisles of the store grabbing lettuce, strawberries and chicken breast. I paid for my items and as I left the store and walked to my car, and it finally hit me: I am an adult now.
My time as a college student was amazing. I spent four years figuring out who I was and growing as a person. I can honestly say that I am walking away a different person. I have learned so much during this season of my life. Thinking back to the summer before I came to college, I remember all of the worries and fears I had that now seem insignificant.
When I came to college, my biggest fear was that I wouldn't be able to make friends. I was a shy introvert and honestly, I thought no one would want to talk to me. Throughout college you will come into contact with hundreds of people. Some will make an impact on your life and some won't. Coming to college can be a scary experience. You might even feel like there is no one who could possibly be like you, which can make you feel very alone. Know this: you will find friends who love and accept you for who you are.
As you grow, these people will change. Some friends are only for a season, some are for a lifetime. I grew in and out of friendships during my college experience and am lucky enough to have found lifelong friends. You will too. Find friends who will push you to be the best you there is.
I have found that the key to a successful friendship is communication. I am a passionate person, so when I argue, I argue. I went into college thinking that the best way to make friends was to avoid arguments. I found out very quickly that the best friendships aren't the ones that have the least fights. Bottling things up helps no one. If you have an issue with someone, tell them. If someone has hurt you, talk to them. Forgive them. If you have hurt someone, apologize. People aren't mind readers. If you bottle up your true feelings, things will eventually explode.
The most important thing I learned in my time as a college student is this: don't let failure crush you. Let it motivate you. You will, without a doubt, fail at something during your college career. It is so easy to let it destroy you. Take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Pick yourself up and try harder. Prove that you can do whatever you set your mind too.
The last thought I would like to leave you with is this: just be you! College is a time for discovering you are and what makes you tick. You don't need to change for anyone. You don't need to be anybody but yourself. Life will get tough at times, but struggle produces character. Work hard to better yourself and become the world changer that you are meant to be, but most importantly have fun.
You will never have another time in your life where you live down the hall from your closest friends. You will never have another time in your life where you can walk across campus to an office full of brilliant professors just to pick their brains. You will never have another time in your life where you can take your time figuring out who you are and what you love. Once you walk across the stage, shake the hand of your president and take your diploma, you will be thrust into adulthood. Enjoy it while it lasts!
