As I begin the summer before my senior year of college, all I can think is "Two more semesters left of pretending I'm a freshman again. Hell yes." But, while that's what I'm thinking, everyone else is thinking, "What's next for Kathryn after graduation?" Not only are they thinking this, but they're asking me too. Seriously, the question is coming from everywhere. Mom. Step-mom. Dad. Step-dad. Siblings. Best friend. Best friend's mom. Aunts. Uncles. Seriously, my five year-old nephew asked me what my plan was the other day.
So for all of you out there wondering the answer to the most dreaded question for any upcoming college senior, here it is:
I DON'T KNOW.
Not an acceptable answer mom and dad? Oh well.
Now, usually I wouldn't take "I don't know" as an acceptable answer for myself, but I feel that at the ripe age of 21 years-old, it is PERFECTLY ok for me not to know what I'm doing with my life in a year. A WHOLE YEAR. Do people realize that the question, "What's next after graduation?" is pretty much completely irrelevant a year out?
I mean don't get me wrong, I have an idea of what I want to be doing and where I want to be, but nothing is set in stone. I honestly just don't know, which can be scary for someone like me. You know, that type-A personality who always has a grasp on everything. If you ask any of my friends, they could tell you that I always know my next step. I'm a planner by nature. If you took a look inside my agenda you would see the next coming months perfectly planned out with everything that I have going on (even though it's not much because thank God for summer). Really, I'm always prepared. But, it just so happens that one of the most important things in my life, "what comes next," is one of the only things that I don't have prepared or planned, and I'm honestly not even worried about it.
Things I am worried about?
- Soaking up the sun.
- Enjoying my last summer before the real world.
- Partying like a freshman again.
- Participating in my last recruitment.
- Relishing all my last social functions.
- Enjoying my last year at Southern Miss with my friends.
So as I take on this last summer before the real world, I look to tell you that as of now I have no earthly idea of where I'll be or what I'll be doing this time next year. I'm not prepared for it, and I'm not even thinking about preparing. Ask me in six months what my plans are for after graduation and hopefully I'll have a better idea. As for now, STOP asking me what my plan is because frankly I don't know and don't plan to know anytime soon.
So to all those rising college senior years out there who keep getting that dread question, I say here's to one last year of acting like a freshman again!