To quote T.S. Eliot, April is the cruelest month. Most college students, especially those who end school in May, can agree with this sentiment. Final projects, social events, music festivals, and more seem to come out of nowhere at full force – summer is so close, yet so far away.
If you are like me, a senior about to graduate, April is many things. In some senses it is cruel. There is so much to do in so little time, and including the lasts of many things that have been so present in my life over the past 4 years. Not knowing the next time I will see some of the faces I see daily or at least every week is a scary thing to think about. But it’s also exciting. Where will I see these people next? In what context? What will I be doing? Although it is sometimes difficult to remember, college ending means the next chapter of your life is beginning. To quote Frank Sinatra (I have a thing for quotes), the best is yet to come.
What is there to look forward to after college to make it through the cruelest month? A lot. Get excited, seniors.
1. No More Homework. Unless you are going to grad school. If you are, congratulations! Homework will be a thing of the past eventually. Hang in there. For everyone else, imagine the post-grad bliss of never having to spend a late night in the library with a stack of books again.
2. A Full-Time Job. Whether you have a job lined up for after graduation or not, eventually you will have a job. Hopefully you will do something you love, but regardless you will be making money to support yourself as the strong and (financially) independent man or woman that you are.
3. Your Own Space. I say space because you might not have your own place right away, which is ok. Regardless, you will no longer be living on a campus, in a dorm, or with college roommates. You will have a new space (potentially with roommates), to call your new “adult” digs. Moving home for a bit? You’ll have the luxury of returning to your own bed and home cooked meals.
4. Time To Focus On Your Health. For some people, college is the time to test limits that sometimes compromise one’s health. Pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner, heavy drinking, and choosing Netflix in bed over time at the gym are all very common collegiate staples – and that’s fine. Post-grad life is (hopefully) different. More time to cook and prioritize your fitness will put you right on track to developing healthier habits.
5. Exploring and Trying New Things. Post-grad life opens the gates to the rest of your life, starting with your 20s. You now have the freedom to try and find new places and things, go where you haven’t been before, and experiment with all that the world has to offer. Just don’t get too crazy.
April might be cruel, but May is going to be sweet. Graduation is coming, but so is the rest of your life. I leave you with one last quote from Walt Disney: “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Go get em, Class of 2016!