Senioritis: Looking Back on my Concord Education

I can honestly say that making Concord my home was one of the best choices of my adult life.
Photo By College Crew

College. It’s something that we dreamt of when we were young, and it is often portrayed as a magical place where you get that first taste of freedom. For most, once they are there, at some point, they grow to hate it, and then at the end of their time have mixed emotions about leaving. This was true for me. I was excited to come to college, and for most of my time here I hated it and was ready to be done, and now that I graduate in a few short weeks, I’m having those mixed emotions about leaving.

     I remember my first week on campus. I was constantly lost, dazed by the amount of work that I was already expected to do, and learning how to take charge of my own life. I admittedly stayed up way too late, ended up in the wrong class a time or two, and got my first F on an assignment. What I didn’t realize was just how much these experiences were teaching me. I learned to manage my time, make better choices, how to study for a test, and that there is no such thing as extra credit in college. I learned so much about myself and life in that first semester on my own.

     As I spent more time here, I saw myself grow as a person. I changed majors, I became interested in my coursework, and I started to make friends who shared interests with me. What I had expected when I came to Concord was that it would be a pit stop for a few years in my life; what I found was very different. College has made one of the biggest impacts on who I am as a person.

    Admittedly, I have had a terrible case of senioritis this semester. After spending the past three years here, I am ready to move on to the next big thing for me in life. Now the question becomes what is the next big thing? The options are endless: travel, get a full-time job, go to graduate school, maybe even come back and get a second bachelor’s degree. After spending much of my life knowing my next step, it is daunting not knowing now.

    When you leave college, you must decide where you will live, if you can afford to live there, what kind of job you will try to get, and all those other “adult” things. I am nervous to figure things out on my own and have more responsibility than ever before. Hunting for jobs can seem overwhelming at times and trying to plan for the unknown is impossible but both are just part of the transition stage from college to the “real world.” Even with this stress, I am excited to finally apply all the knowledge that I’ve gained from my time here.

    Three years ago, I came to Concord University without the slightest idea of what to expect, but I can honestly say that making Concord my home was one of the best choices of my adult life. Now as I transition to the “real world” after graduation, I’m sure I will miss the late-night Sheetz runs with friends, last minute study sessions, and the assurance that I can wake up five minutes before class and still make it on time. I want to thank the Campus Beautiful and its amazing people who have helped make this my second home over the past three years. Don’t wish your time here away, because it goes by all too fast.