Oh, the Places You'll Go...

True wuv...

   Tell you what... graduation is and isn't all that it's cracked up to be.  A lot of people when they graduate from college assume that they deserve a job.  And hey, after four plus years of grueling tests, hours of homework balanced with a home life and work to afford those years of schooling... it's hard not to feel a little entitled, right?
   The best part of graduation for me, was an excuse  to get all my family and friends together.  Unfortunately, my husband's family wasn't able to make it, but they were in NYC supporting his little sister whose orchestra were competing and playing at Carnegie Hall.  It was very tempting to skip walking to go to that.  However, we still had a lot of fun with all the family that could come.

Me and BFF... who's now
on a mission!

  

It's such a surreal feeling to graduate.  For the past 16 years my identity has been "student".  And within the space of two days, you suddenly stop being a student.  I'm not going to lie though, taking that last final was sawheet! That's a good feeling for sure... walking out of the testing center with the sun shining and and the weight of finals off my chest.  However, to every great time in life, it can be pretty scary too.
   Change is always a little scary, it's what we try and avoid a lot in life by getting good sturdy jobs that pay for our permanent homes that will house all our perfect predictable children.  Hah.  However, there's no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growing zone.

Now a legit graduate

   For me, the biggest changes are 1, I'm no longer a student and 2, I quit my job.  Long story short, that job was a temporary one anyway and the boss didn't provide any incentive to stay and belittled me for trying to help.  Peh... forget him.  Needless to say, life was telling me it was time to move on and actually try and push myself into a job that correlated with my degree.  Problem is 95% of the people in my degree go onto Graduate school.  I thought about graduate school for a while, and it just didn't feel right for me so I was stuck trying to figure out what a student not going to grad school could do with their life.
   After months of searching and talking to loads of teachers, friends and coworkers, I decided to get licensed as a Health Fitness Specialist.  I've always loved exercising and staying healthy and knowing how the body works.  I'm no fanatic by any means, I love my occasional chocolates and white rice :)  I just love being able to teach and help people to better their own bodies with exercise and nutrition and make it a lifestyle versus a one-timer New Year's Resolution.

Finally... a KITCHEN AIDE!!!

   Off my soapbox, back to the story... so my last day of work is tomorrow.  And graduating without any job prospects and quitting the one job I had can stress you a little.  I did feel like I deserved a job... where were the people lining up to finally meet me, the girl who just got a Bachelor's of Science? Who worked so hard for many years to go to college, to pay for college, to get good grades in college, and eventually graduate from college.
   I guess a lot of life is making your own opportunities and actually doing them when they come around.  Well an internship opportunity rolled around for me, and even though its not paid (what health one is really) I jumped on it.  Today I had my interview, and they loved me.  That felt pretty good... finally... some direction here.

Eating our Indian Dinner in true indian style...

   So I take my ACSM test after we get back from Portugal and Germany (yay!).  My main goal for this pivotal time now, is to make the moments last.  I found that through a lot of the pomp and circumstance of graduation, I got caught up in making sure all the food would be ready for the BBQ, that the hair was curling just right... it wasn't until I got to sit down with everyone that I realized that they were enjoying just being together.  Forget all the little details I had messed up on, they really just wanted to be together, enjoying each other and celebrating my graduation... making it so special just for me.
   So I'll try not to stress as much over change, and realize that life is one great balancing act.  I'll take a bajillion pictures and kiss my husband a thousand times a day.  I will make it special for everyone else, and in doing so... make it special for me.


  Bon Voyage... Ciao... Tschüß :)