Countdown to G-Day.

Five days!

Today, I finished reading the last novel of my college career. The number of assignments remaining for me to complete is dwindling rapidly. In the next three days, I have two tests to take and one paper to write. That's all.

Tomorrow, I go to pick up my cap and gown.

The reality of what is going to happen on Saturday is starting to sink in. I know graduating from a university is supposed to be a grand accomplishment. I do feel a sense of accomplishment that I presume will only increase as the diploma becomes mine and the whole ceremony becomes a thing of the past. But accomplishment is one of the least emotions I feel right now. I can list a number of other things that are much more prominent in my mind and heart.

Like relief. I have three things left to do. The end of this long road is in sight. I don't know that this is what is actually going to happen, but I feel like graduating is going to give me my life back. I don't feel like my life has been entirely lost since I started this adventure five years ago, but on the whole, I feel like I sold my soul to MTSU, I have had tunnel vision since then and have only looked up for brief moments, just long enough to let people know that I'm still alive and to retain enough of myself so that I wouldn't feel completely lost. After this, I know one type of work will replace the other. I will soon face the world of jobs. In regaining my life, I know I won't be ceasing to work, spending my days loafing around. But I don't see my life anymore being so thoroughly dominated by something I both don't know exactly why I'm doing nor really really want to be doing. We shall soon see if there is any credence in my idealism.

With that relief comes excitement for what's in the future. I don't know what's in the future. What will I being doing in a year? Six months? Your guess is as good as mine. I'm eager to see whose guess is most correct.

I'm also very grateful. Graduation itself means more for future times than it does for my immediate reality. Something that's more immediately germane are the people who are and who will be celebrating this graduation and my future with me. The part of this weekend I'm looking forward to most is the social element. The people I know mean a lot to me. Some of them I don't get to see very often. I so appreciate that there are people who desire to come spend time and their own life and resources to pour into my life. I think it's crucial that life be connected to other people, and if there was anything I did that did not also involve and mean something to someone else, then there's something missing. This wouldn't mean much to me if there was no one, even if it were only one person, around who cared.

Here's to the next five days. May I relish every moment.