On May 12th, 2018, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in Business from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. I held three leadership positions as Campus Correspondent, Entertainment Editor, and Social Media Manager for MCLA’s chapter of Her Campus, the Events Liaison for the Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society, and the webmaster for the Spires Literary Arts Magazine. I held 2 honor society memberships as well as being involved in my school’s Dance Company. I presented at 2 undergraduate research conferences as well as the Innovation and Entrepreneurship challenge of which I was a finalist. I graduated with a GPA of 3.25 (.05 points below Cum Laude and I’m still really bitter about it!). On paper, I was a near perfect student.

My resume and accomplishments, however, don’t begin to touch the laughter of friends, the heartwarming conversations with my favorite professors, the late night frantic calls to my ever-patient mom and girlfriend, Josie. They don’t capture the overjoyed smile when I got the coding right on the Spires website, or when I practiced for hours for Dance Company to get that hip-hop step just right. That smile is not written all over my diploma. The memories and experiences jam-packed into four years are only recorded in my brain for a lifetime.

I come to this blog when I want to say something, or record a significant moment because I’m a writer, it’s how I process. I want to say that the things I’ve learned in four years can’t be attributed or recorded on pieces of paper handed to a job recruiter. My worth and well of knowledge and potential is in the small moments. The ones that there are no words for. The smiles, the tears, the hugs, and laughter.

I wanted to give my advice to recent high school grads going to college; hold on to every second, treasure them. Four years goes by so so quickly, and when you’re sitting out on the other side take a moment. Remember the car rides down back country lanes where you scream sang to the radio, look at the friends that have stood by you, remember your professor’s advice and guiding words and don’t take a single moment of it for granted.

In one of the speeches at my graduation, our student body president said that our class is “a force to be reckoned with.” I’ve never agreed with something more in my life. Class of 2018, we are strong, mighty and goddamn powerful. Dig deep into your well of moments and potential and grow from them. Don’t forget them and never settle for anything less than the blissful feeling of absolute satisfaction with yourself, your dreams, and who you are.

On paper we are students, in life, we are so much more. I’m proud of my graduation because it was a goal I set out to do and I did it. I learned and grew and accomplished so much. I learned my own worth. I learned who I am and who I can be and I won’t settle for anything other and my absolute best. I owe myself that much.

Congratulations Class of 2018!

 

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