Four years, two schools, one degree

September 9, 2010
Dear Rebekah,
Congratulations! It is my great pleasure to inform you that you have completed your degree requirements and officially finished your Bachelor of Arts in English/Communication from Trinity International University. Congratulations on this exciting and momentous occasion.

After a somwewhat rough morning, I opened up my trinity email and found this surprise. After four years of two different schools, 16 busy semesters, thousands cups of coffee, many late nights and early mornings, papers, exams, finals weeks, tears, and laughter, I completed college. With just the click of a button, I was finished with all of it. Obviously I will continue having thousands of cups of coffee, staying up late, crying and laughing, especially as I continue working on this political campaign. But in the direct college context, I have completed my time, degree, and years as an undergrad student.

Last week I went up to Trinity to see all of my close friends, acquaintances, and favorite staff members. It was great to be able to see everyone but weird all at the same time. Life had continued on at trinity with hundreds of new faces, new carpets, a new section of a building, etc. The community of Trinity was busy and moving along, and I was no longer a part of its daily routine. It was an extremely bittersweet notion to realize, part of me was so excited to be out of it and the other part of me yearns to remain in that tight nit community.

I miss the random coffee times with Sarah, I miss going to chapel, I miss stopping on the sidewalk to say hi and having an hour long conversation with a friend, I miss the closeness of it all. I don't miss staying up until three finishing the paper I forgot, I don't miss stressing out over an exam, I don't miss awkward interactions that only happen with college students, and I don't miss trinity expectations (WHAT? I enjoy a glass of wine occasionally).

I know that I've already written about finishing up college and stepping into life, but I guess I can't but continue to reflect about it yet again as I am in such a transitional part of life. Thankfully I still have friends that I keep in contact with almost as much; Sarah and I contact each other like every 12 hours. And thanks to the campaign I am still drinking too much coffee and working long hours and will be for the next 53 days, until the campaign is over.

My goal of this blog was to celebrate the fact that I graduated and I have digressed into reflecting over my four years. Oh well...these are just my thoughts