Shedding the Label of Student

I have been a student for as long as I can remember. Even back when being a student meant going to preschool and playing on the monkey bars, I have identified as a student for the majority of my life. I have made it through the rough, awkward middle school years to studying abroad my junior year of college. Now though, the part of my identity that is being a student is about to change. 

This week, I attended my last week of classes, ever. I have no plans to go to graduate school, so this is really the end. I have finals next week and then I’m done with college. It’s weird to think that such a big part of my identity is about to be over. Summers will no longer mean vacation and I won’t get excited when I see my friends in class with me. My life has revolved around school for so long and it’s a little daunting about what comes next.

Although my identity as a student is about to end, it’s an exciting time in life. For the first time, it truly feels like I can decide what happens next. While I have goals to work in the publishing industry, nothing is set in stone and it’s both thrilling and terrifying. The world is open to me and I can do anything I want. Even though I’m leaving behind the label of student, so many new possibilities lie ahead of me and I can’t wait to see what happens next! 

• graduation