So it's finally happening. That day that everyone looks forward to so much. My birthday? No. My wedding? No. My baby's birth? No. I am counting down the days until I am able to wear that black gown and turn my tassel to the other side. It feels like it's been an eternity since I first stepped foot on the Chico State campus, but really when I look back, it's only been a mere three years. Three years? Yeah. I am completing my Liberal Studies program within three years instead of the norm of four, or even the steadily increasing five or six years.
So much has changed about me and my life since that first day in August of 2008. I can even remember the first time I met my dorm roommate, Kasie, and we hit it off right away. She quickly became my best friend and was my support system when my friends from back home were not able to be there for me. I had a boyfriend at that time - one I thought I would be spending the rest of my life with. Kasie would come home from her busy days and would automatically know when there was a relationship emergency... partly because I would be blasting OneRepublic's "Apologize." That first year, I can say I regret. I was too caught up in a relationship that I was not focusing on really finding out who I was as a person and redefining myself. Everyone in the dorm knew of me as Kasie's anti-social roommate.
The second year was basically my year from hell. My relationship ended which also led to my friendship with then roommate ending as well. From the start, I felt like life was ending for me... but oh, it really was just beginning. I went through a couple roommates and eventually found one that I was able to stick with. I formed new friendships and relationships with people that I was very grateful for. Then, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and go find me. I was accepted into the Camp Adventure program where I would work on a military base with children all summer. My placement was in Brunssum, The Netherlands. All I can say about that experience was that it really taught me so much. I learned I did not want to go into teaching, after about 18 years of planning for that route. I learned that I can count on myself and be comfortable enough with being by myself. I traveled to a total of five countries - The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, and Luxembourg. And finally, I met an incredible man who taught me what it was like to be respected and cared for. All this learning happened within two months, and even though there was one unfortunate outcome, I cannot express my gratitude for this experience.
Now, in my third and final year at California State University, Chico, I am beginning to transition into that all so scary adult world. I was able to find myself after losing friends and a three-year relationship and I redefined myself as someone I am so proud to be. I know who I am. I know what I stand for. And most of all, I love what I have become. It is now almost time for me to walk across that graduation stage and walk into the work-force and the world that is much more real that my little college town. It's scary, yes. But I also must look at it as another adventure to live. This is a new chapter for me. College graduate. 21 years old. Single. Yes. I can do this.
