'So, What Are You Doing After Graduation...?' | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Education

'So, What Are You Doing After Graduation...?'

To everyone who asks me, "what are you doing after you graduate?"

129
'So, What Are You Doing After Graduation...?'
Madelene Whitfield

"What are you going to do after graduation?"

Boy, don't I wish I knew.

All I know is that I will walk across the stage, get my (expensive) piece of paper, maybe shotgun a beer in celebration of surviving these tedious yet priceless years and hug my cat. After graduation, I'll probably update my Facebook profile saying "Graduated from James Madison University." I'll clean out my room and apartment 2511 in Harrisonburg along with my three roommates. We'll probably have to paint our chalkboard wall back to a normal color and patch up all the holes and scrapes that we made during our time here. Our graveyard that commemorates all the nights we don't remember will be taken down and thrown out. We'll say goodbye to our neighbors, our deck that faces the mountains, and Leo the lion statue that sits on the deck. We will turn in our keys and pool bands to the leasing office.

In one week I'll be registering for my last semester of classes. It's my last 'hunger games' for getting into the so few requirements that I have left. I'll never have to wake up at obscure times or 'take a bathroom break' during a class to go and register during my time slot.

I don't know what I'm doing after graduation. I'm not going to grad school. I don't have a job or an internship lined up waiting for me. I don't know where I'll be living. Honestly, I don't even know what I want to do with my degrees.

Once I graduate, I don't know who's going to stay in contact with me and who's going to drop me like a hot potato. I'll pass down my fraternity letters to my little and exchange my nightly library groutfit for a cap and gown. I'll never get student discounts again and I will finally never have to keep track of my JACard. I'll never have holiday breaks and going out on a Thursday will look washed-up.

Gone will be the nights where I would sit in my roommate's room and watch World of Dance. Gone will be the times where we all sit around and debate if we should go out or stay in. I will no longer have access to a free gym membership and free football tickets. When I come back to visit, will I be welcomed or will I feel awkward and out of place?

I'll say goodbye to my home for the past four years. I'll go to Backcountry and Brickhouse one last time. I'll cry on the quad for old times sake and I'll try one last time to pet a quad cat. I'll walk through Forbes and Harrison Hall; the two buildings that I sold my soul to and I'll thank my professors for giving me their wisdom and being so patient with me.

So what am I doing after graduation? I don't know. But I do know that because of my school and the relationships I formed, I'm sure I'll be alright.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

13356
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2545
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1564
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments