“It’s hard enough to find people who would love you no matter what. I was lucky enough to find three of them.” - Sex and the City: Don’t ask, don’t tell.
Graduation is a funny thing; in high school, when one graduates, they become the ruler of the universe. Inflated egos and wide-eyed naivety are packaged hand in hand. In college, when one graduates, they become cynical drunkards bittered by the system for all their pains in getting a piece of paper that says they get paid more in the real world, then curses society for not having jobs readily available for their pickings. This is of course a different story if you’re an Ivy Leaguer or if you’re mommy and daddy pre-planned your first 35 years.
First 35:
By the time you hit 5, you would know how to play 2 instruments, a sport for boys, dance or gymnastics for girls and another random activity that you would have excelled in.
You spend the next 13 years doing the K-12 thing and in your 9th year or so, you’re bogarding all the AP course while fighting acne, hormones, and sex in all varieties. You fight this mythical thing called sleep to study and prepare for a standardized exam that serves no real purpose in life except to taunt you if you’ve bombed it. In your 12th year, you test your BSing skills on essays about why a college should pick you, even though luck and social location are the lotteries attached to College Admissions if this millennium.
In college, if you were lucky in getting in the first time around, you would have either screwed up to the point of failing out, or you would have secluded yourself from the “real college experience” by having an intoxicating affair with your books. You learn to abuse your body in ways you didn’t think was possible; living like a hippie during exam week, drinking like a dehydrated cow, and what about those embarrassing moments you wish you could erase? You would at some point date too many people, not date enough, learn things that you wouldn’t tell your parents, and of course, gain too much weight. But at the same time, you would have made life long friendships, learn the costs of bad decisions, rise above the drama, and if you’re really good, you might even taste what success is all about. But in the end, you are more jaded then your age group allows.
so for the remainder of the years until you hit 35, your parents would have planned out your career path, network you with pre-approved employers, map out your love-interest criteria, and when they’ll expect grand children from you. That all being said, I think I too have fallen into the dreaded paht of the 35 year plan. But this post isn’t about me…it’s about the people around me. The ones who love me…well, for me.
Mikey, Sophie, Stils…three amazing people who have played intricate roles in my college life. Our friendships have withstood the test of time and I want to dedicate this post to you guys.
Stils, my twin, it’s so amazing because you are one of my longest lasting college friends. From pledging, to graduating, you have given me so many wonderful memories. Your love, support, loyalty and companionship has given me so much more that words could describe. Your jokes and humor always brightens me up, and you always seem to know when I’m in need of a good laugh. I expect our friendship to last for a life time and one day, I am gonna get a God-child from you!
Mikey, my rock, my number 1. You ARE my other half. My best description is that you are my soul mate. You compliment me in ways no one else can; you get me even when I don’t get myself. The trials and tribulations we’ve faced, the pains and successes, and most definitely all the SNAFU and hog tying =], (or at least wishful thinking), I wouldn’t have survived it at all if I didn’t have you by my side. You are my brother from a different mother, you’ve saved me in more ways than I could ever explain, and the only reason why I made it this far was because you never stopped caring. Semper fi devil dog, semper fi.
Sophie, even tho you are the death of me, I still love you with all my heart. Three long years of putting up with my bullying you, duct taping you to the wall, and all those other random moments of chaos, you still keep coming back for more. jk! Your ability to laugh at everything, the way you continue to amaze me with your madd skills, and your genuine heart of gold is what makes you so special to me. Your ghetto fob-ulous experiences have taught me some of the most amazing and intimate lessons in friendships and taking the higher road. Your perseverance and optimism is inspiring to me, and yes, “I want to be just like you sophie.”
the three of you have played such a huge role in my life that I am now fearful of not being able to stand up on my own two feet as you all embark on the next chapter in your lives. But I am faithful that if I ever fall, you’ll all be there to catch me. Even with a bittersweet departure from your college lives, you are still teaching me to grow and adapt to life. I am so proud and so honored that you are my friends and despite all the crap that I’m going through, I musta done something right cuz God sent you guys to work on me.
Congratulations you guys. Fair winds and Following Seas.
<3 Jon, Nhi, Nancy, John, Kelly, Lesley and all the other class of 2008 grads.
