From the time we are little kids, timelines have always been predetermined for us. By the time we’re one we should be speaking, by the time we’re five we should be reading, by the time we’re a preteen we should be able to express ourselves. Middle school is three years, high school is four years, and then society tells us that four years after high school we should be graduating and getting our first “big kid” jobs. If we aren’t on that perfect track we tend to be hard on ourselves, and the inevitable life comparing begins.
There are so many variables in every person’s life that can cause road blocks, slowed timelines, and cause us to take alternate routes. The majority of the time, at least for me, this brings my thought process to that of realizing that something must be so wrong that I'm not on the perfectly timed path that all of my peers tend to be floating down so effortlessly.
Guess what? It’s okay. Actually, it’s more than okay. There is something to be said for making mistakes; following the path that makes financial sense or just doing things at your own pace. The truth is that everyone in life is going to have an opinion on how you should live your life, but what it comes down to is what you think is best for you.
I’m 22-years-old. This is my fifth year of college. And you know what? I am thrilled to call myself a Coug for another two semesters. Here at WSU (and many other universities I’m sure) this great privilege is commonly known as being a "super senior." It took me awhile to get pumped because I am constantly surrounded by close friends graduating, seeing Facebook posts about those big kid jobs we’ve dreamt about our whole lives, and having “real life” begin. Then it dawned on me: I am 22-years-old. Why the heck am I in such a rush to meet the timeline expectations so kindly decided by everyone but me? I am going to be in the type of environment that not only allows my free thinking and constant desire to travel, but encourages it.
Another year to learn. Another year to grow. In my first four years of college I faced things that ranged from losing my virginity to losing a friendship with my childhood best friend; losing myself a few times to losing friends to suicide, losing some of my biggest insecurities to gaining new ones to battle. Loss brings a certain clarity to people: it shows them what they want, what they never want to lose again, and most importantly, it shows them how to cope.
I lost a lot of things in the last four years and I have gained more than I ever thought possible. I have some of the best friends in the world (I’m convinced), I have this whole new appreciation for black coffee, and I have a new perspective that allows me to love any opportunity that is thrown at me (whether it seems downright awful or like the best thing that’s ever happened to me).
The point I’m trying to make here: if you are in a situation similar to mine and have mixed feelings about being a 22-year-old in undergrad, freaking smile about it. You have another year of meeting new people and learning from new experiences. You have another year to shape who you are meant to be. (And yeah, you have another year to be a Coug, and that’s enough right there.)
