-5 days…

Earlier this morning, I (Lin) did something that officially brought to a close all the work I’ve been doing for the past 3 1/2 years: I graduated college!! Funny that all I seem to have to show for my hard work is an empty red binder and a very, very large tuition bill.

I busted my ass (*especially* this semester!) going to school full time and often working two jobs, and today all that work finally came to an end. It was even better that President McRobbie’s speech was about accepting change for the better and being able to embrace it without fear. It was a helpful little extra boost of encouragement that makes this overwhelming undertaking seem almost manageable.

One thing I really do regret is not having spent more time on campus socializing and networking. It was a lesson learned too late: that working is not as important as enjoying school, friends, and the whole experience of student life. But if I did learn one thing, it’s that I don’t have to follow the beaten path. I always found myself very unhappy and confused when it came to choosing a set path of study and eventually a career. I wanted to learn too many things from too many different areas to pick a single road to follow for the rest of my life. I knew that I didn’t want to waste away at a job that I didn’t enjoy and go home to a house I can’t afford full of junk I don’t care about and it took me a long time to fully realize and accept that this “usual” life sequence is not the only way to live.

So, I thought of things that I really liked doing and traveling was always the first thing I would (and still do) think of. Every time someone asked what I planned to do after graduating college, I would mutter something like “I have no idea” and mention in passing that I hoped to find an awesome job that allows me to travel extensively. I realized that every time I talked about traveling my entire mind and body would light up with excitement. So here I am, only a few days from embarking on a ’round the world adventure. This isn’t a job of course but it’s what I really want to do, not for anyone else, just for me. Maybe when I have to stop traveling for a while to save up more money, I can find a job that will capitalize on my worldly adventures but until then I am happy being a frugal (and sometimes dirty, hungry, tired,…) backpacker.