Here’s a reflection on what my graduation experience was like, and a bit of encouragement for you as you begin this next chapter beyond college.

Graduating from college seemed incomprehensible to me, even as it was happening. It was always the ultimate goal to reach for as I grew up. It was the one thing that seemed so far away, and yet it was the one big goal I could truly imagine coming true. But the time to come after that goal was to be achieved became blurry and hazy. Describing something “beyond college” never seemed real because it felt like it would never get here, as it was always something to come, rather than it being a current reality. What I imagined of the time after college seemed to get blurrier and hazier as my graduation date approached. Even though people asked more frequently about what I wanted those blurry images to become, I couldn’t picture anything but that present moment I was in, which was in college with my best pals, in a place I loved with my whole heart. I didn’t want to move on from what I claimed as a major part of my identity – in this case, a proud Virginia Tech Hokie – but I knew that I was simply racing time at that point.

Then, graduation day came. It was exhausting, delightful, emotional, and familial. It was a rollercoaster, ranging from gratitude for the past four years to begging to remain a college student living on a meal plan forever. There was anticipation for the upcoming adventures in life and a gaping fear of the unknown.

The moment I graduated passed like any other moment. There wasn’t a “I’m finished! Here we come, adult life!” sha-bang. It was a simple moment with added adrenaline and a touch of early summer heat. All I could do in that moment was let it pass as it came, with gratitude and humility. And then it was over.

Like someone who needs to relearn how to walk after some sort of injury, I had to relearn who I was without the identity of my university and college at the forefront of my life. Introductions changed from stating my name, major, and year in school to just my name and an awkward pause afterwards. Being a recent graduate meant I had to find myself again. It also meant I had to accept that my introduction meant that the weight of who I am was found in my name and the core of my character, not in what I was doing in school or that I was a college student. It was a paradigm shift of “I’m a college student” to “I’m more than that,” but I wasn’t sure what the “more than that” was..and I never saw that change coming.

As I think about what I’ve learned in the past couple of years, I recall how much I’ve learned about myself. I have learned that I need time alone each day, the outdoors is the key to my heart, the hour between 2-3 p.m. is the toughest in the work day for me to stay awake, friendship is what you make of it, and cooking really isn’t as intimidating as it seems. I’ve also learned that now, instead of your identity in college, who you are is rooted in how you treat others and serve others. It’s rooted in how you show up for loved ones and how you work hard. It’s not in where you’re from, what you’re studying, or what degree you have. Graduation is a time for you to decide the life you want to live, who you want to surround yourself with, and the impact you want to make. Can you think of anything more special than that?

To VT19, and Group 8:

Four years ago, I had the opportunity to serve as an Orientation Leader and Hokie Camp Leader welcoming new Hokies to Virginia Tech for a summer. It was the sweetest experience where I made incredible friends, created memories, and grew deeper appreciation for my university and its people. (Read my post from 2015 about this experience here.) It was a beautiful thing to see the Class of 2019 students in my Group 8 community embrace each other in the anxiety of the new chapter they were stepping into. They greeted one another and myself with smiles and hit the ground running, eager to learn about their new home. What floored me was how genuinely good my students were. They were respectful, generous, and kind, even though Orientation and Hokie Camp were intimidating events to show up to as a new Hokie. I knew Virginia Tech was lucky to be getting this crew of students.

Now, looking back, I can see that those students gave Virginia Tech SO much. They pursued their passions, ranging from dancing and intramurals to Relay for Life and undergraduate research, and they did it well. They made lifelong friends, took advantage of opportunities, and created new ones. They encouraged each other and they became part of the world-renowned Virginia Tech community, bettering it every step of the way.

I am proud of the Class of 2019 for finding their own journeys at Virginia Tech, for giving a little bit of themselves to the community, and working hard in college. I am proud that four years later, they can look back and recognize how they grew and developed in college. That’s what it’s all about.

Graduates, I am proud of you for reaching for something greater than yourself, for working hard, for showing up, for aiming for a goal, and now, finally reaching that. I am thrilled for you to take on the next stage of your life. I am thankful that you are now taking the world on by storm and are ready to give back and take charge in new, unique ways. I am humbled that you are part of our future and such a special part of our university’s past. We are all so proud of you.

I’ll leave you with a final thought – one that I always emphasized during my time as an Orientation Leader. As a mentor told me in college when I was having a rough day, it is ALWAYS a good day to be a Hokie. It’s always a gift to be able to be a part of the Virginia Tech community, to have a degree (almost) from a world-class institution, to have the opportunities you receive at Virginia Tech, and to be given the space to grow into the person you wanted and/or needed to become in college. It is such a blessing to be where you are and where you have been for college. Be proud of that every day from here on out. Remember that once you’re a Hokie, you’re always a Hokie. Continue to give a little bit back to the university and its people, and it will remain a gift to you for the rest of your life, in some old and even new ways. There’s no such thing as a bad day to be a Hokie. You’ll be grateful for this time in your life for the rest of your days. Cherish it and give thanks for it.

 

To all college grads:

Congratulations on an awesome ride, on turning the page in life, and for aiming big. Remember that who you are is no longer rooted in your major or college, but keep those parts of you with you all the days of your life. They’ve helped shape you and helped you get to where you are. You will always be a Hokie or graduate of your university, even if the way you represent that title shifts from student to alumni. It will always be part of you and you will always be part of it.

Best of luck in all the days to come. Give yourself grace, as it might take a little bit to get on your feet and to find your true identity without college. Keep trying until you can’t anymore. Dress nicely on your first day to work, as first impressions are irreplaceable. Ask lots of questions and learn all you can. Remember that everything is what you make of it. Make time for the people who matter most to you in life, and let go of friendships that have never served you. Go meet people when you’d rather watch Netflix, and don’t be afraid to go on solo-adventures. You can do anything that you want to, as long as you show up and do the work. The world is your oyster. Now go and see it in all of its glory 🙂