It is weird, at least for me because the term “Graduation” was always talked about like some far-off island or a theoretical concept, it was never tangible so to speak. So, now that it is pounding on my door and throwing rocks at my window, it is kind of daunting. Looking at real jobs and thinking about what I want to do with my life, in the long term, is new to me. I was never much of a “plans” person. I lived life one book and late, starry night at a time. I was never unprepared, but I was not stressed about the future.

Nowadays, I am feeling that stress a little bit more prevalently, but it is still exciting. Exciting to be considering the things I can do with my degree. As an English major, the number one reply I get when I tell people my major is a scowl, followed by: “What can you do with that?”

So, it is exciting to be finding these jobs that are looking for writers and people with strong grasps on the English language, even just the basic knowledge of style guides like MLA and APA. These things that English majors think of as commonplace but the world has a need for. It is fun to be able to respond to that scowl with a list of jobs I have applied for or that I am considering.

I guess the whole thing is a mixed bag of emotions. I know people who are glad to be done and ready to move on to the next thing. I also know people who are incredibly sad to be leaving the people they have grown to call friends, or family even. I am a little bit of both. It is the end of an era in my life, there are people I really like that I will probably never see again after I leave, and that is saddening. But the future is full of bright possibilities even as the sun sets on this adventure. Following every sunset, there is a coming sunrise, and I am sure the next will be the brightest yet.