There comes a time in every college student’s life when a strange, unwelcome thought suddenly flashes through their mind: I am growing up.
It sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Somewhere in the middle of a coffee break, a late-night study session, a party or a gameday tailgate, this thought will hit you hard and fast. You will eventually graduate college and have to figure out your life. In other words, adulthood is just around the corner, and it’s calling your name.
To many college students, this is an uncomfortable reality. When birthdays roll around, it becomes difficult to ignore the tiny voice inside your head reminding you that you’re getting older and closer to becoming a real adult. Last week, my friend admitted that she is so worried about having to graduate, she is seriously considering adding another major to stay in school.
It isn’t difficult to understand her concern, especially because we are constantly told that college will be the best four years of our lives. Listening to our parents and teachers longingly reminisce about their own college days does not exactly inspire excitement upon entering adulthood.
After all, none of us really know how our lives will turn out once we complete college or finish graduate school. We pour our hearts into our degrees, hoping we have chosen the right field and wondering if the hard work will pay off. But the questions still linger: Will I find happiness? How long will it take to get a job? What if I fail?
As I write this column, it is my 22nd birthday. Ever since I was a freshman at UF, I felt wary of this age and what it represents. This is the year I will graduate college. This is the year I will painstakingly send out cover letter after cover letter, nervously searching for an entry-level job. This is the year I will try to make a home in a new city and say goodbye to cherished friends and family.
To me, this year used to be a symbol of uncertainty and fear. For many of you, the last year in college probably evokes the same uneasy emotions.
Thinking about the future can be frightening, but I have learned that becoming an adult is not something to be afraid of. I realized that these past three years in college have given me the strength, wisdom and confidence to face any challenge that comes my way. Over the course of our college experience, we change and grow in significant ways that prepare us for the next stages in our lives.
When you overcame an internship or project that was more challenging than you expected, you learned that you are more capable than you thought. When you developed friendships with people you never thought you would, you learned to appreciate other people’s differences. When you overcame a painful experience, you learned that you are strong. These are meaningful lessons that will be valuable not only in the months after college, but also throughout our entire lives.
I’m not saying I don’t worry about finding a job — or that the road to adulthood won’t be filled with obstacles. I still obsess over my resume, worry about becoming financially independent and think about what I want my future to look like. Growing up shouldn’t be associated with fear, goodbyes and uncertainty. Rather, it should be about self-discovery, adventures and welcoming new opportunities.
If you face adulthood with optimism and passion, you might just find that the best years of your life aren’t in the past. They’re in the future, waiting for you.
Moriah Camenker is a UF public relations senior. Her columns usually appear on Tuesdays.
[A version of this story ran on page 6 on 10/22/2014]
