As I approach graduation, like any other major milestones in life, you are forced to look back on all that you have done. The realization that I am not completely satisfied with my college experience came about by listening to others talk about theirs, beaming proudly at all they've done and their many aspirations.
Because of the situation I was in I was not able to fully engage in the college experience for my 1st four years there; I lived on my own and was working an extremely draining and demanding job that sucked up most of my time. That was four years of bonding, friending, travelling, networking, and enrichment that I lost. I look at other's friendships that have been formed through those concentrated interactions on campus, and the evident camaraderie, and it makes me a bit sad that I am on the outskirts of those groups.
I know that I am blessed to have even been able to have gone to college; I do not regret the people that I have met, the experiences that I have had, and what I have done. I just wish I could have experienced a little bit more…if just one year more.
Perhaps I can use this as motivation to provide a better life for my future children, so they won't have to be thrust into adulthood so soon. I want them to have more culturally enriching lives, less stress due to an unstable environment, and be motivated to do well because they will have parents who don't just expect that of them; they will be examples of that greatness. I don't want them to have to work so hard to survive and miss out on what life has to offer. I don't want their youthfulness to be drained because of bills, stress, what ifs, and if onlys. I want to create in them that balance between responsibility and fun.
I want to give them the childhood-young adulthood I didn't get to fully have.
I guess I better get started, huh…?
One ♥