Facebook updates this week have been exploding with statuses such as, "Graduated!" "I'm graduating today!" "What a great day to graduate!" Photo albums are popping up everywhere with everyone from the past five years in long black robes with the yellow-gold Land and Food Systems stripe, throwing their caps in the air, and showing off their beautiful diplomas.
Last year, at this very same time, I attended the graduation ceremony and reception for the LFS grads of 2010. It was a funny feeling seeing half of my friends, whom I become close with over the last four years, finally cross the stage. Your university years really do fly by, and before you know it, everyone's off and into "the real world." I remember thinking to myself that this would be me in just one year.
Well here I am, and no, I didn't get to join my other classmates who also took an extra year to graduate. I didn't get to have my turn with my family, friends, and teachers in front of the Rose Garden that should nearly be in fully bloom during this time of the year. Instead, I've just wrapped up my final semester on exchange in a country that before arriving, I knew absolutely nothing about (unless you count ABBA, Ikea, and H&M). I wouldn't trade this for anything.
It's been a weird mix of emotions this week. On one hand, hearing about everyone back at home graduating together and being all happy makes me feel a bit sad that I am not experiencing my final year of undergrad back at home, with my classmates, with my friends and family. No discussions about our plans for the next couple of years, where we're headed, what we want to do. No final run around campus, MacMillan, no final Wednesday night bbq, trip the farm. But on the other hand, I am so happy in Sweden; it all feels so comfortable here, and I've gotten a good grasp of the lifestyle here. This week has not been easy, and until I leave Europe, the next few weeks won't be easy. I have become so close with many people and it's sad to think that we're all finally leaving. Ten months came and went by - and I thought this would be a long year away from home! I guess I am looking forward to being back on solid ground where I can see my old friends, my parents, sister, and rest of the family. Right, and eating out again :) However, this year really did change me; I learned more about myself, my interests and values, and met people from all corners of the world that I would never otherwise have met who have influenced me in such positive ways and have changed my ways of thinking.
I'm getting blue just thinking about this. I suppose the best thing to do is to enjoy what I've got now, before it all goes away. Congrats to my fellow Grads of 2011; this is a special time for you, and I look forward to sharing this same feeling in the autumn.
Last year, at this very same time, I attended the graduation ceremony and reception for the LFS grads of 2010. It was a funny feeling seeing half of my friends, whom I become close with over the last four years, finally cross the stage. Your university years really do fly by, and before you know it, everyone's off and into "the real world." I remember thinking to myself that this would be me in just one year.
Well here I am, and no, I didn't get to join my other classmates who also took an extra year to graduate. I didn't get to have my turn with my family, friends, and teachers in front of the Rose Garden that should nearly be in fully bloom during this time of the year. Instead, I've just wrapped up my final semester on exchange in a country that before arriving, I knew absolutely nothing about (unless you count ABBA, Ikea, and H&M). I wouldn't trade this for anything.
It's been a weird mix of emotions this week. On one hand, hearing about everyone back at home graduating together and being all happy makes me feel a bit sad that I am not experiencing my final year of undergrad back at home, with my classmates, with my friends and family. No discussions about our plans for the next couple of years, where we're headed, what we want to do. No final run around campus, MacMillan, no final Wednesday night bbq, trip the farm. But on the other hand, I am so happy in Sweden; it all feels so comfortable here, and I've gotten a good grasp of the lifestyle here. This week has not been easy, and until I leave Europe, the next few weeks won't be easy. I have become so close with many people and it's sad to think that we're all finally leaving. Ten months came and went by - and I thought this would be a long year away from home! I guess I am looking forward to being back on solid ground where I can see my old friends, my parents, sister, and rest of the family. Right, and eating out again :) However, this year really did change me; I learned more about myself, my interests and values, and met people from all corners of the world that I would never otherwise have met who have influenced me in such positive ways and have changed my ways of thinking.
I'm getting blue just thinking about this. I suppose the best thing to do is to enjoy what I've got now, before it all goes away. Congrats to my fellow Grads of 2011; this is a special time for you, and I look forward to sharing this same feeling in the autumn.
Congratulations on graduating too! I feel for ya. But it's definitely not something to regret :) Enjoy the rest of your time and make it fabulous ;)
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