Big week in the Wheeler household. Saturday marks the beginning of the end of my collegiate career. To put some perspective on things, I started college in 1997. I have had many different majors and attended four different colleges. I haven’t gone to college continuously since then as I took about three years off in there somewhere to ‘find myself’. I had a lot of ups and downs in life and in love during that time. A lot of good times, some not so good….but all had some lesson to teach me. To be honest, I’ve learned more from life than I ever have in college. Education is good, but you don’t always get a degree for the most valuable education. Many of my most valuable lessons have been learned from people who are my dearest friends, long lost loves and bitter enemies. I cherish those lessons and memories. To those of you who read this and fit those categories, thank you. I’m 100% serious. You have helped me in ways that you probably don’t even know.
Overall, I feel like I have some sense of stability in life right now. I think that one of the things that I most feared in my previous college experience was the fear of finishing and then being thrown out into the unknown. I think that people at the end of their college experience have this idea that they have to graduate and get a job in their field. I’m not sure that is the be-all-and-end-all of things. One of the best things that I did was to stop going to college just because I wasn’t finished and go out and work and see the country. It wasn’t always easy, but I took my licks and worked very hard to be ‘successful’. I’m not bragging or anything because I don’t think I did anything miraculous, I just did what I had to do.
Not sure where all this is headed except to say I’m pumped for the days ahead. I think one of the things that makes this semi-transitional period easier is that I’m not really at a crossroads like most college grads. I don’t have any tough decisions to make just yet. I don’t have to get a real job, but I might have to get a second real job to keep my baby in diapers, haha! I don’t have to find a place to live unless I absolutely can’t handle having neighbors any longer.
All this to say two things: I’m finally graduating and thank you to those of you who have supported me in countless ways over the years.
Congratulations on the forthcoming Gradulations.