Post-Grad Lessons

Time goes by even faster. In college, life is broken up into four exciting parts: Fall semester, an all-new start; Winter Break, the holidays, family and friends from home; Spring Semester, another new start, formal recruitment, the excitement of snow days, summer weather; Summer, beach days, making money and the merging of friends from home and friends from college. The rest of the world, though, just has one looong rotation. The seasons come and go- and boy, do they go. Sometimes it may feel that the 9-5 slows down a bit, but then, boom! It’s Friday, then the weekend flies and other week goes by. Talking to my friends who graduated today, it’s hard to believe that just 12 short months ago, I was walking across that stage. Where on earth did the last year of my life go?

It’s hard to change when no one else is. When I look at all my friends, I see that they’re still staying out until 3 a.m. Partying in Hoboken all weekend long. While I was never big on that scene, it’s hard that I can’t be with them. I see their Facebook photos and statuses made at 3 a.m., long after my bedtime. But, I know, if I were out doing that, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

The impossible is actually possible. One year ago, we were recent graduates filled with such mixed emotions. While most were all ready to become a part of the “real world”, some were left wanting just one more year of the carefree lifestyle of an undergrad. Either way, it was happening, and we all (especially me, the Communications major, and my close friends, future teachers) repeatedly heard a pessimistic “Good luck getting a job.” But guess what? It happens! I did get that job. I’m just thankful everyday that I hate children and would be a terrible teacher. Other impossible things I conquered this year? No biggie, I only moved out and finished a half marathon. What else? I had an article published on the front page of NJ.com today.

It’s a lot easier to lose weight when you go from chugging beer and mixed drinks to sipping wine and cocktails. The results are actually amazing.

One Reason Being an Adult Sucks

The End of an Era

One of my favorite TV shows, Greek, ended last night. I started watching it when it first came on years ago- I had just pledged a sorority and was expecting a TV show that was way off of my Greek life experience. I was pleasantly surprised- not only was it a great show, it was also really relevant.

I aspired to be Casey Cartwright- something no one would have ever expected me to be. Completely confident, the president of a sorority, future law school student. Not to mention a really, really hot boyfriend. (Team Evan forever). I eventually became my own Casey Cartwright. I was president of my sorority. I wanted to go to law school until my senior year of college, and I've never been so thankful that I changed my mind. I have my own Evan.

The end of my era came less than a year ago. Don't get me wrong; I loved college. I always knew that I would be a better grown up than a partying sorority. But with graduation comes moving on. Letting go of what the best four years had been.

A lot in learned in college. On your own, you learn how to do things for yourself. Who to trust. Who will be there at 2 a.m. How long you really need to give yourself to prepare for something. How to take risks.

Then, woops, you're back home again. You all these new skills and independences- but nothing to do with them.

You have sorority banners and pledge paddles. Badges. Silver, gold and blue paraphernalia. Penguin stuffed animals. Sixty sisters you know still at school, sixty alumnae scattered (in my case) across the state.

Greek did, in addition to lots of other things, a great job at showing the transition from undergrad to grad student or real person. That transition is important, but for most, it's hard to do it right away. For some, it took living there to see that it was time to move on. You have to hope that the work that you did while there will leave an impact. After you have that diploma, it's someone else's turn.

Because guess what: yes, college was a blast. But there's bigger and better things out there. There's grad school and careers. Washington DC and taking relationships to the next level. New relationships. (Rusty and Ashleigh? Ew.)

Greek showed a tasteful ending: it ended in its prime. It ended with the same cast, good acting and better writing than when it started.

It knew when to let go.

Snow Day(s)

You know what makes me really happy?

I got out of shoveling snow! One point for trivial happiness!

After the extreme snowfall last winter, my mom and my neighbor split a snow blower hoping to never have to use it. That logic clearly failed, but it got me out of shoveling my immense driveway.

And, in further proof that snow days aren't fun after graduation, I had to work from home. Nope, no more snow days ever again. No more wine at 10 a.m. No more movie marathons while snuggling with my roommates. No sledding for me, just writing. Not that I really minded because I am a poor writer and it was another great excuse of why I couldn't help blow snow or clean off the cars.

Anyways, I'm done with snow now and it can melt and we can skip to summer, thanks.

Growing Up

For the first time in four years I won't be moving back into college.

Weird.

I loved college.  I loved my friends, my sorority sisters, (most of) my roommates.  I met my boyfriend.  I fell in love.  I was president of a sorority.  I really learned who I was and let myself become someone.  I was quiet in high school and scared to show everyone who I really was.  I didn't talk much in class and kept myself to my small, pre-selected group of friends.

In college, I quickly saw that I could be the person that I wanted to be.  I could disagree with another student- or the professor- in front of the class.  I could quickly say I didn't do all the reading.  I could lead a group of girls to be the biggest (and best, obviously) sorority on campus.  It was a great time for me to grow up.

And now I'm back at home.  Stuck back in the rut of being the person I had to be for 18 years.

Oh well.  While everyone is moving in this Labor Day, I'm still sitting on the beach.

I win.