Don't get me wrong, I have been waiting for this day to come for a looooong time and I'm super excited... on the inside. On the surface I may appear to be exhausted and bitter, and in a way, I am. But everyone feels that way sometimes, even the happy-go-lucky folks such as myself. It's called life.
I have been in school for 6 years (and I'm not even a doctor)! Before that I attended 3 years of high school, 3 years of junior high, 7 years of elementary school, and 2 (maybe 3?) years of preschool. One day, I decided to add all the years of school together and compared them to my current age. Whatever you do, DO NOT do this for yourself! Save yourself the depression, take it from me.
Despite all of the setbacks and rejections that I had experienced in my 24 years, I learned some of the most valuable life lessons - not just readin', writin' & 'rithmatic.
1. Sometimes it is better to NOT ask questions.
Don't ask yourself "Why am I so lucky?" or any variation of that question. Usually the answer is tough or even unfathomable and will usually result in getting side-tracked, ultimately resulting in more stress and less accomplished overall. It is what it is - use it to your advantage!
2. People are people, no matter how small/big/lanky.
Ok, I admit, I threw "lanky" in this one to satisfy my own self image. But it's true! Whether you are an introvert, extrovert, or midtrovert, it all comes down to this: People can naturally relate to each other if given the chance. Often times, the 'goth' and the 'prep' have more in common with each other than either of them would want to ever admit. Never assume something negative about another human being. It's ignorant. Which brings me to my next point:
3. Don't make an 'Ass' out of 'u' and 'me'.
Did you catch that? Simply put, never assume. Perhaps 9 times out of 10, assuming blindly may work for you. Talk about ratios - that's a pretty good one, right? Wrong. It is usually an assumption that leads to destructive actions or feelings towards others. Again, just don't be ignorant and search out the facts in order to cover your rump.
4. There are no such things as excuses!!!
This is perhaps my favorite one. Don't come into work or class late with a "good" excuse. Nothing you can say will excuse your tardiness, except for death or close to it. I do agree in justifying and explaining a situation in order to better relate to one another, but it will never be a excuse. There are consequences for every action. To think otherwise would be completely ignorant.
If I had a time machine to travel back in time and live my life differently, I would burn the machine to the ground before ever using it. Being in school for 21 (22?) years of my life isn't really that bad at all. In hindsight, I learned more than I ever thought I did. So yes I am stressed and yes I am overwhelmed - but on all honesty, I wouldn't want it any other way. Graduating on Saturday isn't the "beginning of the rest of my life" - it is more like an epic promotion in the never-ending roller coaster of life!
