Well, here I am, exactly 1 month post grad and out of the Wittenberg bubble.  To my surprise, the world is still spinning, I am still a functional human (somewhat) and my parents and I are still on speaking terms. 

So far this summer, I have stayed busy which has been the key to my sanity.  De-Wittenberg-Bubbling was rough to say the least.  I thought graduation weekend would be the biggest pill to swallow, however, it was greatly overshadowed by adrenalin and bliss.  Thus, the toughest part of leaving the place that I called home for countless days came AFTER  G-word weekend as reality began to take its toll. 

Let me tell you. Knowing that you are about to leave a place that has shaped you, encouraged your personal growth, and given you 4 of the most crucial, triumphant, and bittersweet years of your life- is difficult in itself.  Now, it is even MORE upsetting to realize that as soon as you leave that place, no matter how many times you may be there again- it will never be the same. To you. Yeah, ouch.  That house that you lived in will be occupied by someone else.  Those places where you used to hang out will be inhabited by unfamiliar faces.  And, the fairytale college lifestyle where your social network and greatest friends are a house, a text, or a party away- becomes just that: a fairytale. 

What I have learned though is that life does go on.  Sure, it takes time.  I’m still talking about it: oh my gosh I’m done with school, I don’t know what to do with my life- so dramatic.  The truth is though, that there are thousands of people just like myself (and the recent class of 09) who are going through the EXACT SAME THING.  And you know what? So did the class before us. And so will the class after us.  So far- the survival rate is pretty good. Sure some people are lucky and have jobs right away.  Some have their lives planned out on little post-it notes by the hour.  But, the majority of college graduates are doing it all the same: letting it fall into place as it should.  Yes- you plan here and there- try to get the opportunities lined up for yourself… but things will come into place eventually. It is not worth the stress, the tears, or the hour long freak-out phone calls worrying about not being capable to survive the real world.  Every Wittenberg graduate is equipped for the real world. Yes, I will say it. Dream, breathe, believe, and relax.  Everything falls into place as it should. 

These have been 4 of the greatest years of my life, and to Wittenberg University- the people it has allowed me to meet and the experiences that these people have allowed me to have- I am eternally grateful.    

peace- love- and 2009. =)