"One of the things I’ve been telling people lately is that I’ll be graduating college at the end of the semester. As I’m only 19 years old, people tend to have a lot of questions."
One of the things I’ve been telling people lately is that I’ll be graduating college at the end of the semester. As I’m only 19 years old, people tend to have a lot of questions.
For all who are wondering, here’s how I did it: During high school, I wanted to get out as quickly as possible and started attending community college part-time as a sophomore and then full-time as a junior and senior. I then took those 65 credits and completed my freshman year, both summer semesters, and then discovered that I was going to have enough credits to graduate at the end of the semester, and decided to take the leap.
Do I feel like I got the full “college experience?” Absolutely. Do I feel ready to move on and become a “real adult?” Yes. Am I excited to see what the next chapter has in store for me? 100 percent.
But am I a little afraid? Of course I am! The real world is a scary place, filled with bills, 40-plus-hour workweeks and job uncertainty. But the real world is also full of opportunity, where businesses are started, dreams are realized and aspirations are made real. After all, college is supposed to prepare you for this place, so why bother wasting time fearing it? If you’ve put in the work, you can reap the rewards.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my time at Ohio University, it’s that life is short and no one is going to hand you anything. If you don’t seek out opportunities, you’ll never get them because success doesn’t just fall in your lap. If you don’t get involved, you’re never going to realize your passions or understand your interests. If you don’t study and do your homework, you’re never going to get good grades. If you don’t apply yourself, you’re never going to get internships, jobs or professional opportunities. Even though I’ve accomplished a lot, I still had many moments when I wanted to do better or do more. Realizing now how short my time was here, I cherish every single moment that much more.
I’m incredibly grateful for my time here at OU; it’s really an incredible community. From my work at the LGBT center, to my involvement in student organizations, to hosting a chalk walk, to writing this column, all of my extracurricular activities have inspired me to go further and make a difference in the world.
So even if you’re not graduating, ask yourself, “how can I make the best use of my time here?” Or “what haven’t I done that I want to try?” And “how can I make a difference in my own life and in the world?”
Erin Fischer is a senior studying women’s and gender studies. Email her at ef102312@ohio.edu
