Going home for a big family event is a prime moment for a student. You get to see all your family which is awesome but you also get a home cooked meal. Food is the best part to us, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The smell from the kitchen hugs us as soon as we step foot in the door and wipes all thoughts of school off our shoulders. So imagine the amount of defeat that consumes us once we hear from the far right corner “so how’s school going?” or the scariest question I’ve heard yet “ Oh you’re a Senior! What are your plans after graduation?”. Now that last question is usually said with so much pride and excitement that you want to give such a competent and content answer. Just a few weeks ago I had an answer, then it changed. Then I thought I had the answer and I lost it again. So now I’m actually afraid of graduation, afraid of what’s waiting for me after I pack my bags and drive out of Kutztown for the last time.
This feeling is a complete 360 from High School, I knew what was waiting for me. Everyone prepared you for it, you graduate from here and you go to college that’s the path. However, no one has an answer for you here, after college. “Oh you get a job, but by the way the percentage of students who actually get a well paying job after graduating isn’t that high.. But don’t worry you’ll be fine”.
The beautiful thing about this is that I’m not the only one feeling this way. There are students all over Kutztown’s campus and campuses nationwide who are just hoping that they can go home and eat peacefully without hearing the dreaded question. Because the true answer is that we are still figuring it out. I think even years after graduation we’ll still be figuring it out. Finding who you are takes time. I’m realizing that you don’t always have to have everything together. It’s almost next to impossible to do so, don’t stress too much about it.