My diploma!

It’s quite amazing how 3 1/2 years of your life is ultimately defined by a small 7×8 piece of paper.

Many people ask what the whole point of college is – when all they get is this little piece of paper. All those late nights, 10 page papers, PowerPoint presentations, group meetings, projects, and hard work culminates itself in this teeny piece of paper. Is it worth it? Like, really?

yes?

I’ve come to realize that one’s whole college experience is not in this finished product, but the journey itself. “Peace is not a distant goal we seek, but a means at which we arrive at that goal.” I’ve grown so much through my experiences in college - not just in school, but the time spent with the people around me. Sure, I would have loved to move out, lived in a dorm, live a few crazy nights and gone “college crazy” drinking and partying or what have you. But where would that have gotten me? Growth is not in trying “new” things or experiencing life and making every mistake that could “define” you. No. It can also be in learning through shared thought, growth of the mind, and spiritual foundation. These things have gotten me through my college years. Being in Crosstraining has set a place mat for a mindset of peace and wisdom that no party or crazy expereince could ever do. I’m fully content and happy having been at home, close to my friends and family, and have experienced mild, less exciting college years. Many people say that you have to go crazy and that would be the only time with no obligations and no consequences. But really, simple is good too.

Don’t get me wrong, I really wish I could move out and learn to live, pay, and expereince how it is to be a full-pledged “grown up”- and one day I will – But as I wait for that, I find that I’m happy with how my college years turned out.

I still want to do a lot of things before life happens and I settle down. I want to travel to Europe again, go to Vietnam and the Philippines. Learn a new language. Live on my own, pay my own bills. Many of these things aren’t likely to happen in the next few years, but wouldn’t it be nice if I was able to?

Anyway, these things have been rolling around in my mind since I’ve received my diploma. And one more thought remains…

What now?