The final countdown has begun, as much as I hate to admit it, and the realities of being a graduating senior have sunk in. I’m pretty sure I am ready, however, how can I possibly be prepared to begin a new chapter of life that will take me away from the Universities at Shady Grove (USG)? I have spent the last three years here (yes, I took the “scenic” route) It’s hard to believe. Where did the time go? But after speaking with other graduating seniors, I learned that these are some of the realities being faced. However, it is time to celebrate, and USG is offering the following to help with meeting some of the realities of being a graduating senior.

Jitters/Minor Panic Attacks

Last evening I spent endless hours researching graduate school programs instead of working on my blog post for today. I’m weeks away from the end of my program, but I still can’t help but feel as though I am far from finishing my educational pursuits. I mean I have been going to school my whole life. Literally, my entire life because I grew up believing that education was crucial to being successful.

I grew up in a small community with limited access to life’s basic needs such as running water or a toilet. Where I was raised by my mother and two older sisters. I watched as they struggled every day to put food on the table, clothes on our backs and shelter over our heads. The opportunity to go to school was a privilege I was afforded because of their many sacrifices. I remember going to bed hungry and walking to school with my plastic bag with the one notebook I had for all the subjects at school. And even though I got teased many times for the holes in my shirt or my off-brand school shoes, I enjoyed going to school because I knew education would be my way out. So quite frankly, I don’t know what things look like after school.

My research on graduate school programs landed me right back to the USG campus, and I couldn’t help but reminisce about how I first got here and the experiences I have gained on the USG campus.  I loved it here at USG. I loved it here. In spite of it not being easy. It wasn’t easy to spend three years here instead of two. It wasn’t easy to pay for more classes as an international student whose tuition rate is three times higher. It wasn’t easy to park in the Shady Grove garage and walk that 10 minutes to my class in building 3. But USG showed me that if something was easy, it was probably not worth it. And now USG comes to the rescue again with this great event slated for Thursday, May 3^rd, see flyer below for details.

So, if you are graduating soon, join for an interactive event led by alumni speakers and USG’s Career and Internship Services Center. Listen to advice on one of life’s most essential transitions- Stepping out into the “real” world after college and enjoy the refreshments. Register for the event using the link here.