I'm so proud of all of my friends who are graduating today. All of them slaved away for 4 (some of them more than that) years, and they are ready to move on to bigger and better things. I'm excited to hear about where their lives will take them. I've been blessed with the chance to watch so many friends grow into wonderful people over the past few years, and I'm looking forward to seeing them grow in new ways.
One of the perks of being at a Lutheran college is the church services. We pretty much have one for every special occasion. Seeing so many of my friends in their caps and gowns at the church service for the graduates was surreal, but it was great to see the joy radiating from so many faces. There was pride on the faces of families and friends during and after the ceremony was indescribable. I couldn't help but smile as I saw them, too, and thought, This is it.
I have a problem, though, that I have to confess. I'm slightly bitter. As happy and proud as I am, I'm also being selfishly sad. It's like that Toby Keith song..."I'm not crying 'cause I feel sorry for you, I'm crying for me." The people I will be watching walk across that stage tomorrow are some of the people I have really come to treasure the same way as family. There are people who have been so influential to me. There are those who helped me learn lessons that I'll never forget. There are those who have just created great memories with me. There are so many people that I will never see again after tomorrow...and that makes my heart ache. I feel as though the people who have made my college career what it is are all leaving tomorrow, and that this year was the peak, next year will not be the same, and all the other whining I could come up with. There are a handful of people who will be here to graduate with me next year, but it's not the same. I just can't help but feel left behind.
And don't even get me started on missing my friends from CUC walking across the stage tomorrow...and the knowledge that I could've been walking with them. That realization made me feel my first few significant tinges of regret for transferring.
Next year's my time, though, and so much that I need to experience lies in these next 12 months.
I'm going to enjoy watching people walk across that stage. I'll have tears in my eyes. While I can't stop a few sad ones from being in the mix, most of the tears will be of joy and pride for my friends.
~"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." [-Dr. Seuss]~
1 comment:
I feel ya sista! heh heh (this is L's, btw) it's a surreal feeling that a lot of my friends are graduating while I'm still going to be here for a while. I love ya!
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