It's officially sunk in--I'm graduating from college. When huge, life-altering moments like this register in my brain, my first instinct is to freak out. My second is to write. Then I started thinking about the blog I wrote in Italy...how much I loved to sit down and reflect on all of my adventures. And while I don't expect a blog about being a grown up with bills and a cubicle to be quite as riveting, I do see it as my next great adventure. I think thirtysomething Tara will thank me for putting it all down in writing. So I can look back on all that is wonderful about being a twentysomething.
The past few weeks in Clemson have been some of the best of my life. My friends and I have been doing every stupid thing we know we won't be able to do once we're upstanding citizens with careers and schedules. Last Saturday was a prime example. We began the day at 2:30pm by popping champagne and blasting "Call Me Maybe" before heading to a backyard party with a twenty-person game of flip cup. Four hours and several cocktails later, we attended our last ever sorority function complete with a karaoke machine and a stage. Once we were finally directed off of our spot in the stage, Kirstie and I went home to change out of our southern belle dresses into foam-worthy clothes. We spent the night in the basement of a frat house, ear-deep in foam, behaving like freshmen.
Aside from getting all of the foamy fratting out of our systems, we've been partaking in every adorable senior activity that Clemson has to offer. This University is truly one of a kind. They let every senior go into Death Valley, get a professional photo with the Tiger mascot and Howard's Rock, and then announced your names over the speakers while you run down "The Hill" with arm and arm with your best friends. Today, they gave us a free dinner, live music, and tons of gifts you could receive simply by writing a thank you letter to a Clemson University donor. Parking Services and Gail Ring's ePortfolio regime aside, this is a University that cares about its students for life. I am so incredibly grateful to say that I'm a part of the Clemson Family. It makes the idea of graduating a little more comforting, knowing that no matter where I am in the world, Clemson is still a part of me, and I'm still a part of Clemson.
With all of this senior madness going on, I'm up at 2:15am on a Wednesday just thinking about the past four years. I have more nervous energy now, the evening before my last college class ever, than I had before every "first day of school" growing up. So many people and experiences have helped not only make these past four years incredible, but have given me a place to "find myself" for lack of a better cliche. A few of the people, places, and experiences that have turned me into the twentysomething I am today:
-Johnstone Annex, 9th floor hall mates. Despite the pigeons and other mystical creatures.
-The Quad. Every single thing about the Quad.
-Alpha Chi Omega. The fun-loving, down-to-earth, hilarious group of women I call my sisters.
-2010 Orientation Ambassadors.
-LeaderShape, and the "off" group of friends that I never expected to meet there.
-The Women's Leadership Conference. Call me a nerd.
-OrgSync. Call me an even bigger nerd.
-Every boy that pissed me off (queue Girl Power Anthem).
-Italy, Italy, Italy. Everything Italy.
-The TDs stage on karaoke Tuesdays.
-Spring Breakers 2012.
-Road trips...DC, Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle, Pigeon Forge, Atlanta, Florida...
-Crawford Falls 222. The coziest apartment with the comfiest couches.
I could go on for years.
It's my hope that I will be able to keep this blog up as well as I did my Italy blog. For my family and friends in New Jersey and beyond, I hope this will give you a look inside my new world. My world devoid of naps, solo cups, and using drinking as an excuse to wear a cute outfit.
Ready, set, real world.
