My Post-Grad Plans

I never thought that this day would come. It’s really odd that in 5 months, I am going to be a college graduate, a Samford alumna, an officially adult. If I’m being honest, it’s scary. It’s terrifying but exciting. It’s a new step, but it’s a lot of change. I can’t really wrap my head around what’s about to happen in my life, but I know that it’s going to be good and it’s going to be a lot of change.

In my life, I’ve never really thought past college graduation. In life, I think that we are always looking ahead to what’s next and we always have an end goal dream. For me, my life and what I’ve envisioned for my life has always just gone up to college. I’ve never really thought past what my life would be after college. Maybe it’s because my whole life, everything has been planned out for me.

When I was in elementary school, the next step was middle school. When I was in middle school, the next step was high school. When I was in high school, the next step was college. Now that I’m in college and I’m here, it’s hard seeing and envisioning the next step because it’s not “planned” out for me. It’s not something that is decided for me by someone else. The rest of my life is pretty much up to me. I get to decide where I get a job. I get to decide where to live. I get to decide so many things in my life and I am suddenly handed a whole lot of responsibility.

So, you might be wondering, what’s next? Where am I going to live? What am I going to do? What are my plans? I know by now that what I plan for my life isn’t necessarily what God has planned for me, but I’ve got to have some structure so I’m not bumming it on the side of the road, ya know?

As of right now, I am planning on staying in the wonderful city of Birmingham, Alabama. I have fallen in love with this city. The food, the mountains, the seasons, the people, the accents, and the charm have all made me fall in love with this city. Therefore, I am planning on staying here and living in apartment with two of my good friends.

Who ever thought that I would end up in Birmingham, Alabama? Not me! If I could go back and tell my 15 year old self that I would be living in Birmingham, Alabama, I seriously would have laughed out loud. Isn’t it funny how God works?!

I am planning on staying in Birmingham long-term… I would be completely happy if I stayed here the rest of my life. It’s that great. I know that I definitely want to stay in the South no matter what, though.

As far as a job goes, I am planning on graduating and becoming a teacher. My major is Elementary Education (fun fact- at Samford we get 4 certifications: Elementary Education, Special Education, Early Childhood, and Collaborative Education), so I would ideally love to teach Kindergarten or First grade at a school in Birmingham. Since my job will start in the fall, in the time between graduation and then, I think that I want to work at J.Crew or something like that. TBD about that.

At this point, I’m still deciding if I want to go back to school for grad school. I am leaning towards yes, but we’ll see. I think I want to get my Masters in Elementary Education at Samford. Again, that’s up in the air right now.

Other than that, I’m not really tied down! I am single (super single), I am only 22, and I have my whole life ahead of me (for real, I have so much life to live). It’s so weird starting the rest of my life in just a few months, but I hear that post grad life is really great. It’s going to be a huge adjustment moving into my first apartment, starting adulthood, fending for myself, and starting a REAL full-time job. I’m sort of trying to mentally prepare myself for the change that’s about to happen. No matter what, I know that it’s going to be good.

The weirdest part and the hardest adjustment is going to be when all of my friends move away. One of my very best friends is moving back home to Dallas (and getting MARRIED), my roommate from last year might be moving to Florida, and there are a lot of friends who are up in the air about where they’re going to live. Friendships are definitely going to be tested and relationships are going to be changed- hopefully for the better. It’s all really scary, but I know that I can hold to the fact that I’m not in control. He is in control of my future and He reigns.

I’m about to start crying as I write this, so maybe I should stop soon… College has been one of the greatest experiences and gifts in my life. I’ve made the best friends, the best encouragers, the biggest inspirations, and the best people I’ve ever known. I find hope and strength in the fact that the best is yet to come. It keeps on getting better with God’s plan.

My life surely hasn’t been what I’ve imagined for myself and it’s been drastically different than what I thought it would be, but it’s been absolutely a dream. My life and just living my life has been such a testament that He knows me best!

Here’s to the future and to being scared but knowing that He is in control!