Graduation

I’m graduating from college tomorrow. I.Am.Graduating.From.College.Tomorrow. How incredibly strange is that? Very strange, at least for me. For the last 17 years of my life, I have been in school. I knew that in August/September I would be back in the classroom through until May/June. Summer’s were a time of fun and when I got older a summer of work. This past summer was a summer of fun. The next summer is going to be a summer of work, and the summer after that and after that. I am about to enter the adult world. Am I ready? I sure as hell hope so. As of the moment, I am waiting to hear back from an amazing company about possibly one of the greatest entry level positions created for PR graduates. I want it so bad. I love the company and even though it’s in an area (tech) that I’m not too familiar with, I always welcome a new challenge.
The last few years at SJSU have been amazing. I have grown so much, met so many amazing people and have been a part of things that I could have only been a part of here. That’s the beauty in going somewhere new. You get a chance to experience something that might never happen again. I came here not knowing a soul and I finish my college career with countless friends and memories. My involvement with school and our PR department has definitely shaped who I am now and who I will become professionally. The friendships I’ve created, the conversations we’ve had and the things we’ve worked on will remain with me forever.
I remember my first day here like it was yesterday. I didn’t know any of my roommates in the on-campus apartment and I had never lived with roommates before. Needless to say, I was pretty nervous. Mom, Dad and I drove up in two cars (because I have more things than I should...and since then I’ve accumulated more). We stayed at the hotel the first night and then headed to campus. My first impression of my new living space was whoa this is tiny. And still pretty cool. My one roommate was really nice and had thankfully traded numbers with me ahead of time. My first night was a little rough. I admit I cried. I was scared, in a new place and knew no one. Well, one person but she hadn’t moved in and we had only met once. After that first night, I was fine. I met up with Anna and we explored our new home. And then classes began, and I fell into my routine. I loved it.
Since then, I’ve lived in two other places with a bunch of people. Two others in the apartment, 20 others in a sorority house that offered amazingly low rent for the summer even if you weren’t a member (which I am not) and now in a house that i have lived in with 4 other people. Oh and I can’t forget this summer with my two roommates in Italy. Oh what a life I’ve led the last few years.
Ok I am rambling, but mainly because I sat down to write this with no plan whatsoever. I just wanted to get feeling out. In a conversation the other day with my friend Nick about our upcoming graduation, I warned him I might...no definitely will cry. And he said “Good. I wouldn’t want you to hold back anything.” I am SO thankful for my friends here (and yes, I am aware that I’ve said this several times over) but really I couldn’t have made it without them. And now we’re on to the next chapter in our lives. Full speed ahead.