Precisely one year ago today I walked across a stage, shook the hand of my university president, was handed a diploma, and suddenly, in a span of about 30 seconds, my college career was done.
It was a surreal feeling that took quite a while to sink in. And even then, I didn't really have to think about "the real world" right away because I already had a summer job through mid-August.
But I've now been an "official adult" for several months. In just a few days I will have officially been working a full time job with benefits for seven months. I called to set up my own personal Primary Care Physician today, in no way affiliated with the doctor my family goes to. I need to do the same thing for my dentist sometime this week. I have a salary. I have a 401(k). I pay for my insurance and rent. I am only a few hundred dollars away from officially, totally owning a car.
I've learned a lot over this last year. I've learned some hard lessons, but God has brought me so far.
If you had told me a year ago that I would now be working for a contracting agency with the government, still living at home, and dating a coworker...I would've laughed at you. For a long time.
Why on earth would I take a job as a contractor? I want to write, after all. How could you think I'd still be living at home? I want my own place to decorate and make mine and I want it fast! And me? Dating a coworker? Bahh! That's far too complicated.
Heh.
Clearly my plans didn't work out so well.
But God is still so faithful. And I am so incredibly blessed with where I am in my life right now.
A year out from graduation, several friends are still looking for full-time work. They're still living with their parents not because they can't find a roommate, but because even with five roommates they still wouldn't be able to afford the rent for a Northern Virginia apartment.
There are things about being an adult that I enjoy.
I do enjoy having a regular schedule where I work at a specified time each day. I enjoy going to work and then leaving work and not having to think about projects or papers that are due. My time outside of work is my time and I can do with it what I want. Call me weird, but I actually enjoy budgeting and allotting my money and seeing where I am spending so much each month. And I enjoy seeing my savings grow month after month. And I know that I will enjoy decorating my own place, cooking for myself, and having my own space.
But there are other things about being an adult that I don't like.
I don't like filling out forms for things. I don't like things like 401(k)'s and IRA's that just make my head hurt thinking about them. I don't like complicated things like investing and such. I don't like bills.
It's been a crazy year. I've had a lot of ups and downs and sometimes all I've wanted to do is curl up into a ball and die. But I've survived and I'm looking forward to the amazing things God has in store for this year.
So what have I learned since graduating college? Being an adult is hard, but God is so, so faithful.
--Shayes.
