Column: Graduation Blues
It’s officially graduation season, that means photo shoots, graduation ceremonies, job offers, bittersweet endings and wonderful beginnings.
Life, as we’ve known and became accustomed to, is about to change. While some are filled with excitement to start the rest of their lives, others hold a slight hesitation.
For four years, I’ve called USC Aiken my home and my family. Just like with family, there's always someone I could turn to when I need some inspiration or a good pep talk. My advisor became another father figure in my life. I have at least ten campus ‘moms’ and more brothers, sisters and cousins than I can count. With all this family around, I’ve felt supported and loved.
Throughout the years, I began to feel how children feel when they are growing up: misunderstood. I wanted to break away, grow up and do my thing, in my way. But now that it’s time for me to leave, I’ve been feeling this emotion more and more each day: fear.
I’m scared that I won’t be a well-rounded and productive citizen. I’m scared I won’t be as great as I think I am. What if I fail? What if I fall? Who is going to pick me up and comfort me when the big world out there becomes my daily life?
The easy and hard answer to these questions is simple: me. Although the thought of being completely on my own is scary, this is what my USCA family has prepared me for. Because of those pep talks, I know how to encourage myself when I get down. I know how to be resourceful and ask for help. Most importantly, I know how to form friendships and be an effective communicator.
We are beyond prepared for this thing called life after graduation because we were equipped with the tools to do it. Be not be afraid graduates, we’ve got this.
Columns written by editors and writers of Pacer Times do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff members or leadership. Letters to the editor may be emailed to Editor-in-Chief, Cecilia Maddox at cmy@usca.edu, and will be published at the editorial staff’s discretion.
