class of 2011

After three major changes and a last minute semester abroad, I had accepted the fact that I simply would not be able to graduate within 'the normal' four year college career. I didn't think it could be done, it took a lot of gull to finally accept the fact particularly because I'm second  in my family to graduate college and would have been the first to take more than four years. My parents/family don't have the slightest idea of what college is like, let alone how drastically it contrasts with high school, middle school and so forth. They sent me into college fall 2007 and expect me to walk in Northrop in 2011- plain and simple. Hah.
I felt as if taking longer than the expected four years would be disappointing and difficult to explain to the folks. Despite all this-I accepted it and I am completely fine with the idea of graduating a year or so after originally intended. This is the foundation of my future, if I need more than four years, I can embrace that and keep trucking along.

Now here is where the shock comes in. I came in to reconnect with my academic adviser ( whom I absolutely adore)  We discussed graduation, and the fact that I have not only finished my major/minor, but I've racked up enough credits to have graduated last spring. ( granted that would have been without finishing my degrees) I was dumbfounded. Especially being a planner by nature, this was a curveball I hadn't seen coming.
I've been chewing on this the entire day. And now that things are rolling, I'm quite proud that after all the overloaded semesters, summer night classes, and various volunteer commitments, I made it.

I know graduating college and whatnot is typical. Everyone is doing it. How am I different from any of the other thousands graduating this spring? I'm not sure. BUT I'm pretty darn proud of myself. And shit, I can't tell you the last time I really was.

Hard work always pays off. Always.

I'm starting to research grad schools. Info sessions and job fairs back to back. I'm growin' up. EEEEEK.

Oh, and on another note: I'm recieving job offers ( part time, since I'm jobless and broke this semester) One from an early learning center close to home and the other is a tutoring position with upward bound. Interviews are set up for sooon.

Things are going well. In the end, I don't think I oughta be worrying too much.