My personal experience in university, for the most part, was of a place where enthusiasm was infectious, spreading wildly throughout hallways and corridors, providing undergrads with a sense of multiple possibilities for the future. The idea that your degree can take you anywhere is a mantra lived and breathed by many, especially when we question the thousands paid in tuition each semester.
Losing the sense of security that my undergraduate studies provided me feels similar to losing a lover (albeit one whose expensive dates I will not miss). At SFU I met some of the most brilliant minds, built lifelong friendships, and acquired knowledge on matters beyond the scope of my imagination.
Now that I’m sending out applications for employment opportunities by the half-dozen each day and making ends meet temporarily by serving coffee, the nostalgia of my time spent writing papers and frantically cramming pulsates through me, highlighting what a relatively enjoyable and honouring experience getting a degree was.
Questions and suggestions float around in my head in each moment of this transition period: Could I update my LinkedIn profile further? Have I checked my phone for any missed calls from prospective employers? Did I pursue the right degree? Should I pursue my master’s only months after graduating if my job applications are not triumphant? What do I want to do with my life, exactly?
Of course, there is great relief simultaneously that comes from completing my studies. Gone are the looming deadlines of term papers, the repetitive nature of some courses within the same field of study, and the strains of financing education. Indeed, finding a relatively normal sleep routine after four years of writing papers during each hour of the day is miraculous.
The nostalgia of time spent writing and cramming highlights how enjoyable getting a degree was.
But it feels like the undergraduate experience happened all too quickly. Certainly, studies could have been prolonged but it seems futile to do so without a defined goal.
It is encouraging to be told, by people with far more wisdom and experience, that this transition period too will pass. Life continues. New opportunities will present themselves, learning will occur in a variety of forms, and time will provide the chance to reminisce and reflect about being at these unique crossroads.
At the risk of sounding like a cliché, truly do enjoy your time as a student. Seek involvement with the smartest people, the most determined of imaginations, and thrive on the inquisitive energy that is rare outside the setting of formal education.
After all, the privilege of being able to invest in your future is not accessible to all, and awakening to the reality of its end can be bittersweet.
