Now that I have officially graduated, I have been reflecting a lot on my time as a college student and at ETSU. College was a major learning experience academically, but aside from that, it was also a time of the most personal growth I have ever had. I have learned how to navigate adult life, although I am definitely still learning, and I have made friendships that I would have never made had I not attended ETSU.
Finishing the my last year of school during a pandemic was also a major challenge, and all students should be proud of themselves for persevering through such a difficult time. During my time in college, I have learned a lot about my own identity. One of the biggest things I have realized is that life is bigger than school or a career, and it is perfectly okay to not have a concrete idea of what your future looks like.
My own future is uncertain, as are many college graduates’ and students’, and that is okay. Even though I am graduating with a degree, my industry and skillsets are incredibly broad, and I have many options within them. I do not yet have a clear destination in mind as far as what industry I want to pursue. For over 15 years of my life, I have identified as a student. Now that school is over, I am working on developing and discovering my personal identity that is completely separate from school or a job.
I think many students have this issue, especially those who were “overachieving” in school. The thought of not having a planned out future is terrifying to some people, including myself. However, I have grown to accept that I cannot completely control the future. I have started to look at the uncertainty of the future as exciting rather than terrifying. I hope more graduates can do the same as they navigate post-college life. I also hope that we as a society encourage each other more to look at ourselves separately from school or work and discover who we really are outside of those establishments.
