Yesterday I received an email telling me that my graduation cap and gown had arrived and I should pick it up by the end of next week and the Union. And then it hit me. In two weeks I will be walking across the stage in the Civic Center, receiving my diploma, and entering the “real world”. And when I processed all this information I felt grateful for my college experience at Florida State University. In the last three years I have learned more about life and myself than I could have ever learned anywhere else.
Leaving my home in south Florida was the biggest thing I had ever done in the eighteen years I had been alive. I moved up with my high school friends and was thrown into a world of freedom that was so liberating it was scary. I had to cook for myself, create boundaries for myself, and be by myself. I come from a very close-knit family with very strict parents, so being alone was something I was not used to and I felt thrown out of my element. Being faced with all the freedom in the world taught me how to make smart decisions instead of fun decisions. Choosing to stay home or study ahead of time instead of going to The Strip helped me earn better grades. Before I left for college, I was a pushover, I was always the girl who said “yes” and never went against what my peers wanted, even if I did not agree. When I came to college, I had a chance to start brand new. I knew what I wanted to change about myself and starting new allowed me to do so. I met a lot of people who showed me that, even if I did not agree with them, we could still be great friends. Being able to express my thoughts and opinions and not be afraid of going against the crowd made me feel more confident about the person I was becoming. I became secure in my own ideas and opinions and I did not care if people liked them or not; it was me and it was beautiful because, for the first time, I was genuine.
With graduation just around the corner, I wanted to say thank you to everything and everyone who made this experience life altering and to wish my fellow graduates the best of luck in all their endeavors. We have been blessed with a top-notch education and it is our time to change the world. GOOD LUCK!