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{ King Neptune is a boss. }
You made it through that ridiculously tough seminar class, you turned in your final 40-page research paper on intrapersonal communication and you walked across that very important stage. Just like that you’re done with 4 pretty significant years of your life. Now what?
Read moreDriving to work, blasting Stephen Kellogg with the windows down on a gorgeous day, I couldn’t help but get all nostalgic and stuff. As I belted out “Start the Day Early”, I was simultaneously reminiscing about my freshman year at Virginia Tech.
“Hey, would you like a free ticket to the Stephen Kellogg concert tonight?”
The words were enthusiastic and encouraging as a girl in a VTU t-shirt held up a single ticket to the concert I had been eyeing all week. The entire week I was tempted to buy a ticket, but I couldn’t quite rationalize going to a concert the night before a final. I mean, c’mon I had to study. Right? ::crickets::
You have a final tomorrow, Kim. Stop even thinking it’s an idea that could actually be logical. Seriously. Stop it.”
My head kept telling me it wasn’t a good idea. Book bag, yoga pants and my VT t-shirt screamed 'I’m heading to the library to study. All night. Forever and ever, the end.' I just couldn’t resist. Don’t do it, stop. The voices kept repeating, but I grabbed the ticket and never looked back at the library.
It might sound completely irresponsible that I didn’t end up pulling an all-nighter at the library, but instead I said, ‘what the hell, I love Stephen Kellogg. When am I going to get an opportunity to see him again?’
I grabbed a seat in the back of the auditorium, threw my book bag on the ground and enjoyed the concert solo. And you know what? I don’t even remember what final I had the next day. That’s the thing; I’ll never remember the final, the paper, the quiz, the assignment, the project, but what I do have is the memories from that concert. To be honest, it was liberating to take the irresponsible route for once in my life. I’ll never forget that concert and I think that’s a hell of a lot more important than that class I can’t seem to even remember.
When life gets crazy, losing a sense of how much you've grown is something that usually follows suit. Think back a year ago, 2 years ago, even a month ago. Some pretty incredible things have happened to get you where you are now.
Sometimes I get caught up in the now, that I forget to remember how much I've grown throughout life, especially since college graduation. It seriously feels like a lifetime ago and that's a little scary. Life gets crazy, but when you slow down to appreciate how many little things happened to get you where you are now, you'll realize uncertainty was part of it all. Whether you're happy where you are now or not, there's always a force pushing you forward. Onward. Upward. Things go wrong so better things can work out. A bad decision can turn into a right one; it's all in your perspective.
After college, I was in a place of uncertainty. Uncertain with my path, my degree, my relationships, where the next road in life would take me. This past weekend, a commencement address (I know I'm so cheesy) made me realize that the times of uncertainty are the times that define you; they're the ones that shape and mold you into you. The uncertainty is just part of our growth, it's necessary and normal and a time that should be embraced rather than feared.
Go on and embrace the parts of your life that aren't certain, those feelings of not knowing what's ahead, where you'll be next year or even next month. Don't be afraid of the uncertainty, embrace it and love it. It makes you, you.
When I look back, everything in my life was always so perfectly planned. From picking out my communication/public relations degree at Virginia Tech, to the 4 years of undergrad life filled with $3 triple vodka soda's and the best of friends, to a summer-filled with applying for jobs, snagging a job and surviving my full year at that job.
It all happened so fast. So far, my life has been pretty much planned to a tee. After high school, I knew that college was my next step. After college, I knew a job (using my degree) was the next, next step. It was all curated to fit my perfectly planned life. Now, it's funny how I feel like I don't have plans. Yes, I want to eventually get married, have kids, the white picket fence, you know the whole nine yards or the 'so-called normal' things, but right now I'm ok with how things are going.
I'm perfectly content with my excessive binge-watching of Scandal, nightly glass of Malbec and Wednesday Night cocktail traditions with my girl friends. Sometimes it's nice to know that maybe there shouldn't always be a plan, a 'normal' timeline of the route your life should take. Sometimes, it's nice to just go with the flow, be laid-back and say screw-it to the timeline. Maybe the unplanned route is the better one.
Fall is almost here. The back-to-school commercials are up and airing full throttle, stores are lined with cardigans, jeans and an infinite amount of Sharpie pens.
It’s back-to-school season. How crazy is that, right? Honestly, the older I get the more time seriously jogs by me – actually scratch that, sprints.
Embracing my older age, a 'big girl' job and the responsibility that systematically comes along with these changes is my newfound duty as an adult. This is the second fall season that I haven’t packed up my car, grabbed a few (ok, maybe the whole pack) paper towel rolls from home and headed toward the most amazing place in the world – Blacksburg. As soon as fall is in the air, I’m immediately reminded that I know longer am a student at Virginia Tech, but an alumnus. Alumnus. The word is even weird. The perks of being a so-called adult are definitely there, but I’ll always miss being a student and the fall season lingering in Blacksburg.
As much as I love my pumpkin spice lattes, flannel button-downs and new lineup of fall shows – there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush at a Hokie football game or the Drillfield traced with maroon and orange leaves.
To me, fall lives and breathes in Blacksburg. A place where part of my heart will always belong.
{ The Duck Pond + all its beauty. }
{ A quiet park behind my old apartment. It was my go-to spot for thinking + long walks/runs. }
{ Leaving my mark at The Cellar was an obvious must. One of my favorite Blacksburg bars, gosh I miss it. }
{ Sunday runs at Heritage Park. This trail was a hidden Blacksburg gem. }
{ Exhilarating; probably the one word I can use to describe Virginia Tech football games. }
{ My quaint little neighborhood engulfed in maroon + orange. Walking down these streets is something I'll never forget. }