When I graduated college (yikes that I can officially write that) I kind of thought that I would automatically become an adult. Of course, I technically became an adult when I turned 18 but little did I know, 18 year old Alex had a lot of growing up to do. Between the time of turning 18 and 21 I did that growing up and I became the person I am today: college graduate, world traveller, someone who's in love and someone who doesn't know what the future holds. All throughout my senior year I worried about the future and getting a job, affording an apartment, even little things like what I would do without the promise of going back to Endicott in the fall.
But here's the thing I've learned about growing up, the future is often unknown and that's okay.
During my senior year my family asked me if I wanted to go on a family vacation in June with them to Hilton Head. At first I said no because, well I thought, what if I have a job by then? I wouldn't want to ask for time off so soon at this hypothetical job I might have. So I said no. But then I waited a few weeks and still hadn't heard back from anywhere and my mom asked me again if I wanted to go and I said maybe. But then I thought, I don't know what the future holds and it may be nothing and it may be a great huge something. Maybe I will meet some exec in North Carolina who wants me to work for her, maybe I will get an offer as soon as I land back in Boston. The possibilities are always endless so why am I limiting myself?
So I said yes. Yes to the vacation, yes to a future of possibilities, and yes to not always knowing what the next step is.
There is an in between time between graduating college and true adulthood. It's where "What are your plans for the future?" lives. It's where it's okay to not set an alarm and sleep until 1:30 p.m. and eating lunch at 4:00 p.m. reside. It's a time to go back to old summer jobs and enjoy time with old friends. It's a time to unpack your life from college and get rid old clothes that don't fit anymore. Maybe you'll repaint your childhood bedroom, go through old books, renew your library membership, or hike local mountains. It's a time to feel happy and proud of yourself for all that you have accomplished and all that you are yet to accomplish.
The in between time is scary at first because it's so full of possibilities but those possibilities aren't something to be scared of. Those possibilities should be embraced and loved and cherished because maybe, maybe one of them will be your something great.
