Some college students dread the day that they graduate because they are leaving a place where they made a mark, found themselves, made a routine, created unique relationships, or felt successful in their student clubs. Students may feel a mix of these things or maybe all of them. I know that these all applied to my three years in undergraduate but I am ready to move on. Here's why.
Just like high school, college is another chapter in your life.
Remember when you graduated high school and you were so ready to get out and live on your own? I'll put this into gamers terms. You completed level one successfully and were ready for level two: college. In this level, you achieved an understanding of living on your own to some degree. As a college graduate, you'll step up to level three: having a full-time job, fully living on your own, and added responsibility for yourself and possibly others. Whether you see it or not, things will change after graduation just like high school did so many moons ago.
No. More. Academia.
If you think about it, you spent from the time you were five years old (four, if you went to pre-school) till you were about twelve in grade school, fifteen years old to eighteen years old in high school, and nineteen years old to twenty-two in college. That's about on average SEVENTEEN years in school. That's not including those unfortunate souls who want to get their masters, Phd, etc. If you are not going after graduate school, then you're done with the realm that is academia. More of what you get to focus on is your job, relationships, and more time for yourself. That's definitely something I'm looking forward to.
More options.
After high school, there was this minimal amount of freedom that you had. The summer before your freshman year of college, you still had some kind of curfew with mom and dad. During college, you could do whatever you'd like but you still had homework to finish, exams to study for, and jobs to apply for. Now once as a college graduate, you are sure to have an extended amount of freedom. If you're going to be officially living on your own without any help from mom and dad (meaning them still helping you financially/living under their roof), then this will apply to you. You can live where you want, do what you want, spend your money on what you want, and be a full grown adult with your newly achieved power. Congrats. You have reached adulthood.
I know it's going to be scary, weird, and different but what I do know is that I will finally be able to live the life I want to lead. Many may be avoiding this new responsibility at all cost. Why not embrace it? Officially growing up is only nine months away.
