Officially a graduate

Today I am officially a Drexel graduate. I will never be a Drexel undergraduate student again. My 5 years have come to an end on this day, the 12th of June 2010.

When I was walking during convocation today, it did not sink in. After I got out and was bombarded with congratulations, it still did not feel any different. It felt like soon enough I’ll go to class again and work on some paper. I did not feel like a graduate.

It sank in a couple of hours later, when at dinner, a friend of mine called me a Drexel alum. That is when I realized it is over. I am suppose to be a grown up now. Plan my finances, have a schedule, be a 9 to 5 person. That is when I realized, so much will start changing.

People tell me all the time I am over thinking. I should be happy, graduation is a beginning, and not an end. I know that. I know sooner or later I’ll get busy with all those worldly matters and in that daily grind. But right now, I think I am allowed to look back and feel like a part of me has decided to detach itself.

I was asked to raise a glass a toast to this day. And roughly this is what I said…

I know people tell me to be happy, to look for a beginning. But I am sad. Not because I think I will never be happy, but because I don’t know yet how to let go of a place which is almost 100% responsible for making me who I am. I made best of friends here, some friends who will come running to help me at 3 am. Some friends who understand me better than me sometimes. Some friends who care about me even when I fail to care about them.

Drexel is the place where I fell in love. It is the place where I met the love of my life and saw it slip away. This is where I felt the power of love and what it gets out of you.

Here is where I learned everything about America. I learned to be independent, and self sufficient. I learned how to talk to people of different cultures and nations. This is where I learned to be accepting and open minded. This is where I learned that everything is not black and white, everything cant be seen with one perspective.

And when I have learned so much, I don’t know just yet how to be ok without it. I dont know how to live anywhere but here. I dont know what to be but a Drexel student.

And that is why my friends I am sad for now, even though I know it is just a beginning.

So all that being said. I am done. And I am an alum.