Post-Grad Life

Okay so I wrote this one back in June as well, just publishing a bit late...

Graduation was very bittersweet. I was obviously sad to graduate and leave Virginia Tech, my home for the last four years, and all the friends I made there. I am going to miss not starting my days until 10 am (or so…), the $2 beers, the day drinking, the football games, the Law & Order: SVU marathons with my roommates…

Graduation was also tough for me for another reason. I remember sitting in Lane Stadium in 2012 watching my brother walk out onto the field in his cap and gown. I was sitting right next to my mom and remember her telling me how happy she was to be at Chris’s graduation and all the wanted was to see me graduate, too. I told her not to worry about it, of course she would see me graduate. At the time, I really didn’t think that was going to be an issue- I thought for sure she would live that long, she was doing so well! Unfortunately, my mom was not physically there to see me graduate, but I do know she had the best seat in the house and was there in spirit.

While there were things to be sad about when it came to graduating, I was also optimistic about my future. I was fortunate enough to lock down a job at the end of March so after months of job hunting knew I was secure in that department. I was excited to have a steady paycheck and to move on to the next chapter of my life and see what the future has in store of me.

When I was getting ready to graduate, the amount of times people said to me “Enjoy your last few weeks, it only goes downhill from here…” or “Man enjoy it while you can, college is the best years of your life…” or something along that nature… Not gonna lie, it kinda pissed me off. That’s like me going up to someone and being like enjoy the day today, because every other day in your life is going to suck… that’s kind of depressing.

Yes, I can understand where people are coming from. College was awesome. I'm going to miss it like crazy. You can skip classes and not get kicked out of school (to an extent). You don’t have as many responsibilities.  You can party any day during the week. I loved college.

BUT that doesn’t mean I am depressed since I’ve graduated. I still have a life even though I’m working 8-5. I can’t skip work without getting fired, but sometimes my boss will be flexible with me. I can still party during the week, I just might feel it a little more when 7 am rolls around. 

I’ve been keeping myself busy and have had so many fun things going on since I’ve graduated. I started with Maribeth and John’s beautiful wedding, then had a crazy Memorial Day weekend down at Lake Anna, then visited my aunt and cousins in Colorado, went to a couple Nationals games, threw Kelsey a bachelorette party, went to Kelsey & Emile’s awesome wedding, went SKYDIVING, and had all of my mom’s side of the family plus neighbors come over for a grad party! And all of this in just a little over a month… And now I’m getting ready to go to Myrtle Beach in a couple weeks, and come back to concerts galore.

And who again told me that post-grad life sucked?

Moral of this story: Yes, college is awesome. Yes, it will probably be some of the best years of our lives. BUT, life doesn’t end after college. There is still so much ahead of us, and we CAN still have fun. Use that money you’re making in the “real world” and do something awesome this weekend!