Tag Archives: Graduation

The Top 15 College Experiences

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I took a commemorative walk around campus today, and as I circled buildings, I had flashbacks of crazy or fun or terrible moments throughout the years. I’m not the only one to accomplish many of these, and they sure wouldn’t have been much fun alone. These events were definitely worth the memories.

So, here’s a list of the 15 most college-like events I have experienced in these past four years (although there are many more).college

1. Waking up in the middle of the night to see my freshman roommate staring at me, naked.

2. Exploring new study niches around campus.

3. Falling asleep in the library after hours (and being woken up by a librarian cleaning).

4. Throwing up after my first neuroscience class because I was so nervous….and failing the class several months later.

5. Recording a music video of “Do-Re-Mi” at 3 a.m.

6. Dressing up as Scary Spice for Halloween.

7. Stealing plates/silverware/toilet paper/cookies from campus because we were out.

8. Crying to a professor about my grades.

9. Tanning on the front lawn.

10. Drinking campus water that tastes like metal.

11. Almost getting fined for building too big of a snow fort.

12. Climbing on the University Center’s roof.

13. Playing campus-wide Capture the Flag.

14. Getting food poisoning from dining hall food.

15. Finding a casserole in the dorm hallway.

…..16. Graduating – tomorrow.

 

Goodbyes and Growing Up

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Lately, each day I have set aside time in the peaceful, quiet mornings to reflect on my college years.

It’s not much, but it’s helpful looking back on how I have matured through the processes these four years took me through. And while I wouldn’t be considered “good” at goodbyes, I’m saying goodbye in my own ways. I don’t like the sad goodbyes. I like the ones with smiles, knowing we won’t easily be forgotten or the smiles affirming how blessed our time together has been.

The process of growing up is to be valued for what we gain, not for what we lose.” – C.S. Lewis

Similar to goodbyes, growing up can be looked at as losing the things – or people – we desperately want to hold on to. Instead, goodbyes and growing up should be valued and revered for the how time has brought us to where we are now.

I could never have imagined the relationships I have formed with friends, roommates, classmates or professors. And if I would have planned my life out in advance, I would have missed a lot from the unexpected.

I can’t follow my own plans, I have learned.

This college was never on a Top 10 list, or even a Maybe list. It was on the unwritten, Do Not Go list along with several other schools that had too many hills or not enough nature paths. But what do I know? Turns out, this was the perfect school for me. If I would have followed my own plan I would have passed up on a lot of good things.

I wanted to drop out of college my sophomore year. Thankfully, I was persuaded to stay. And I will soon be a college graduate, with classes and lessons I would not have experience had I given up years ago.

My plans may be subpar, considering I would have missed a whole heck of a lot between just two decisions. But I can now look back at the university and all the formed relationships with a smiling goodbye, knowing we won’t be easily forgotten and have been blessed to be together.

So with goodbyes and growing up, I know definitively I have gained much more than I will ever be able to lose.

10-Day Forecast

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What’s on the 10-day forecast, you ask? My college graduation.

Almost ceremoniously, my backpack ripped this week. It was a cry for help – telling me it’s ready to stop carrying books, notebooks and assignments. And I completely agree. I’m ready to take the weight off my back and do away with textbooks.

I’m ready for a new chapter. Not a new start, but a new piece to the puzzle.

Photo: Part of me wants to cry thinking of my last two weeks here, and the other part of me wants to dance on top of this sign in celebration.God has been preparing me for this. He’s been changing my worries into excitement, my plans into a purpose.

Most recently, I’ve seen how God was developing me for life after college: homework. It sounds like the craziest thing, but God knew I needed the push to release my grip from this university. I have been loving my classes, well most of them. I love writing articles instead of taking tests. I love practicing my interviewing skills rather than taking citation lessons.

For two semesters now, I have accepted my career-path change with motivation for the future.

And a month ago, just about the time I started thinking of all the “lasts” I’ll experience, homework became my downfall. I despised the way professors were making me, a 22-year-old student, write a summary of a chapter to prove I had read the required number of pages. I dreaded the petty assignments that held up only as busy work.

While these weren’t exactly new emotions since being a student, they were new in this field of fun technology, events and professors.

Little by little, I became okay with these feelings. They were helping me say goodbye to the town and school that has become my home.

In a few short days I’ll walk proudly across the stage. It will not only signify the end of my college career, but also the growth I’ve had throughout these four years. I can walk tall, knowing and thanking this college for the ways it has forced me to mature in ways I never knew existed.

I can walk tall – without tripping.

All Play and Some Work

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As my final year of college is dwindling and “real life” is quickly approaching, reality is setting in.

It was bound to happen, I understand. I am becoming an adult whether or not I’m ready.

So, for my final winter break of college I knew I needed to make some money, but it was oh-so-nice to not have research papers looming over my head. I could take a nap without guilt. I could eat cookies in the morning (although that’s not as seasonally specific as you might have guessed). And I could work 40 hour weeks. 

I did work often, but throughout the five weeks of break I had plenty of vacation time. Not only did I fly to the Sooner state, but I also had the opportunity to experience the Caribbean sun. I thawed off frImageom this below zero weather pretty easily if I might say so. Returning to the frozen tundra of the Midwest was not fantastic, but it’s a fabulous feeling to walk around campus with an all-natural tan in the world of my pale friends.

Even as I am in sun-withdraw on this windy morning, today represents something greater: the beginning of the end.

It’s the start of my very last semester in college. I have waited for this day for years and now that it’s here, I’m shocked to say it’s saddening. The days of all-nighters, poptarts, and campus events are soon to be over. With five short months until commencement, I hope it feels a little longer.

Coming at you spring semester!