Forty classes, eight semesters, four years, two universities, one degree.
Welcome to graduation, class of 2012.
What we've been looking forward to, the reason we wrote (or paid someone else to write) all those papers, the reason we studied for all those tests. The reason we didn't give up, the reason we (kinda) passed our classes, the reason we rolled out of bed (almost) every morning and usually went to class, unless there was a pool party or it was someone's birthday or a holiday...
In seven days, I'll be walking across the stage at the Blaisdell and accepting a diploma for a BA in Journalism from Hawaii Pacific University. We paid this university thousands of dollars so it could reward me with a piece of paper and a spot on the Dean's List. Excellent.
When I turned 13, I remember thinking, "Well, once I turn 18, that's when I'm really going to be an adult." Then I graduated high school and I told myself, "Once I'm 21, that's when I become a real adult." And then I turned 21 and told myself, "No, no, once I graduate college, that's when I really become an adult."
Well, it's here. I mean, I hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying I'm going to graduate before I take my last three finals, all of which fall on same day (Friday), forcing me to spend 12 hours on campus on my last day of undergrad study, but whatever. Point is, I'm graduating college and honestly, I don't think I've hit that adult point in my life yet. I don't feel like an adult. I mean, I work, I pay my own rent and almost know what I'm doing when I go to the grocery store, but I don't know the real stuff that makes you an adult. I don't know how to pay taxes or get insurance, I don't know how to buy a car or what a mortgage on a house is, or how to sign up for a new credit card. I don't know what my credit score is or those magic home remedies for when someone's sick. I can't cook like real adults can and I still get nervous filling out important forms and usually end up calling my parents.
It's a little strange I'm walking away with a college education, supposedly something of very high value, and still feel like I'm not ready to hit the real world, to merge onto the fast-paced highway of life, trading in my bicycle for a real car, being forced to have real responsibilities and not rely on the "well, it's okay, I'm still in college" mentality.
And then I realize there's hundreds of us, thousands - tens of thousands of college students graduating right now, all fighting for jobs and internships and acceptance letters into grad schools. Tearing their hair out, wondering what they're going to do with their degree, how they're going to pay off their student loans, where they'll get a job, who'll hire them and how come this degree didn't magically come with the perfect job?
Well, it's not really all about the degree. And it's not really all about the job and the money and the status, the house and the perfect car and the ideal life and you know what, I'm young. I could be worried about where I'm going to go in life, what my plan is, where I'll be in 5 years. I could stress over future payments for a future house that I will get once I have my future job, or I could realize that I'm 22 years old, I've completed my education and there are so many more important things in my life than a career right now.
Settling down and trying to fit that perfect, cookie cutter mold society has built for us is hands down the worst think I think I could do with my life right now, so many more important things to focus on. Like what? Family. Friends. Happiness, finding my passions, doing what I want, going where I want to go.
I heard the song Dynamite by Taio Cruz the other day, and in my mind I could hear my mom singing "Galileo" where he sings "Ayooo gotta let go!" because I think I told her once those were the lyrics. That was when I realized how excited I was to go back to Vegas after graduating and being close to my family again. They're crazy, sometimes I can't believe I'm related to them, but I love them.
Some people look down at moving back to your hometown or where your family is after graduation. A lot of people avoid it, seeing it almost as a sign of weakness, that you can't make it in the "real world," you were only able to leave for the semi-sheltered college life and then back home you go. But you know, it's actually the exact opposite. Going back home and spending time with your family is one of the most important things I think you can do after graduation.
My family has supported me through everything the past four years, from me deciding to go to college on a rock in the middle of the ocean to playing with the idea of joining the Peace Corps for two years to spending a semester in a city I knew nothing about. They have supported me in my education, helped me when I needed anything, answered phone calls at strange hours to answer questions ranging from when my mom's birthday was to what I should do to cure my tummy ache from eating too much frosting, and what kind of generation are we, to repay them by yet again moving farther away, carrying on and continuing to isolate them from our lives?
Don't forget about what really matters as you continue into the "adult world." Remember why you are here in the first place, who raised you and made sure you made it to where you are today. And I beg of you, don't forget to call your loved ones and tell them how much they mean to you. You are never too busy for that phone call, nothing is ever more important than that.
Congratulations, class of 2012. We did it!
