HELURRRR PARTY PEOPLE !!

I can’t believe that summer is here…

OH – AND I GRADUATED… ?!!

Graduation??

What?

WAIT WHAT??

WTF IS GOING ON??!!

It’s been a bittersweet month – I’ve been reflecting on my undergrad experiences – and I am sad to go, but SO excited about the future.

UW has challenged me in ways I NEVER would have imagined and introduced me to the BEST friends who have supported me though every mental breakdown and who have encouraged me to be unapologetically myself.

Being from Chicago and from a B1G family, applying to UW Madison wasn’t even a question. The distance was perfect – 2.5 hours ( 2 if my dad is driving ). Also, UW Madison has the PERFECT TRIO of : studies, social life, and sports.

But guess what? UW-Madison was my reach school… LIKE, so much of a “reach” that I felt as if I needed a ladder, stepping stool, and a pair of 5″ stilettos to get in. I worked my ass off in high school, but that doesn’t guarantee an acceptance letter.

But I did get in.

Once you’re in, it’s all going to work out – RIGHT??!!

That’s what “THEY” say! You get into your dream school then have the best 4 years of your life, graduate, then work 9-5 until you reach the finish line and retire.

Agreed.

( Not about the 9-5 then “finish line” – that’s another blog post rant )

These past four years have been AMAZING. But “THEY” don’t talk about the humbling classes ( o-chem and physiology, WHASSUPP ) or the anxiety attacks that come with every scantron bubble, lab report, paper submission, or competitive internship interview. They also don’t talk about that constant feeling that you SHOULD be in the library studying instead of living in the moment.

I’ve been laser focused on school and thank god for my friends who reminded me to be kind to myself and experience the other two reasons why UW was my dream school – the social life & sports!

I’m not saying that my undergrad career wasn’t fun – I had a fucking BLAST! But, I wouldn’t label my undergraduate career as the “most fun years of my life”.

Labeling those 4 years as “fun” COMPLETELY disregards the strong relationships we made, the personal growth we experience, and us discovering our “WHY”.

Having “fun” with your friends DOES address the finger dabs you send across the bar to your friends, dancing the night away til bar-close with a vodka soda in hand at the Kollege Klub, and plotting how to surprise your BFF with a smirnoff ice, but it DOESN’T address the obstacles you’ve overcome together, the heartbreaks, the countless times you studied together until library close, the long Facetimes you shared when studying abroad puts oceans between you & your BFFs, the encouragement and support your friends provide after you perform poorly on a big exam, or the rejection of a job or internship.

Having “fun” doesn’t address pushing yourself to take extremely difficult classes, learning how to prioritize your responsibilities while balancing it with relationships and personal health & wellness, and learning how to be self aware but also be unapologetically yourself.

Having “fun” doesn’t address discovering why you were put on this earth or what you want to contribute to society.

Having fun is great, but graduating from college and overcoming endless obstacles with a support system is absolutely PRICELESS.

My two favorite quotes that represent my undergrad philosophy include the following :

“The more you seek the uncomfortable, the more you will become comfortable.” – Conor McGregor

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” – Fred DeViot

ANYWAYS, the not challenge yourself and taking the easy route is SUCH. A. BORE.

I needed to have this little rant because I have heard from one too many people how they are so sad that the best 4 years of their lives are over, but I COMPLETELY disagree.

These 4 years have provided us with a balance humility, confidence, purpose, and self-awareness that built us into who we are today and will help us contribute to society and thrive in “the real world”. Challenges expose us, force us outside of our comfort zone, and allow is to grow as human beings. They are opportunities for us to get better, stronger, and tougher. Fun is great, but isn’t personal growth and learning how to be the best version of yourself 1,000x better and more rewarding??

WITH THAT, I END MY RANT !! We did it, baybeeee !!

xx hails