How am I supposed to do this? I feel like people tell you they are preparing you for this day but did they really? How will I keep track of my life as I reflect back on it? Usually, when I would talk about something in the past, I would say “when I was in fourth grade” or “my senior year of high school”. What am I supposed to say now — “5 years after I graduated college”? I’m pretty sure that will start to get really confusing and require more math than I would ever want to do.

Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to be done with papers and homework assignments, but school has been my whole life since I was four. Wait. That’s a crazy thought. I’ve spent 18 years of my life in school. Now I’m just expected to go out into the real world. No wonder I am freaking out! That’s nuts!

Even though I say I am not ready, college really has made me grow up. From living with your parents, to being dropped off at a foreign place with absolutely no one you know is more than a little scary. But after the second week, you never want to go home. You’ve made a ton of new friends. Some will last a lifetime and others you will barely say hi to in the hallway of your senior year. You don’t have to answer to anyone anymore and have your own rules. College does help you grow, not only by being able to live without mom and dad telling you to do your homework. You also learn a lot about yourself.

For example, I knew I could cook more than Top Ramen, but I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy cooking. Living on-campus and living off campus really are two completely different things. I did both for two years and I couldn’t be happier that I did. Living off campus gives you a better idea of real life. Paying bills, cleaning a whole apartment, not just a small room and having to go grocery shopping so you have food to eat. That’s only a small glimpse into adulting and already I’m scared!

With all of that being said I can’t wait to get into the television or radio industry. I feel like I am finally ready to be on my own and do the job that I’ve been dreaming of for years. I wish that I could say that this has been my dream job my whole life but that would be a lie. I wasn’t one of those kids who looked that far into the future and up until three years ago, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I came into college seeking a business degree, figuring that would be applied to anything. Well, after one semester of learning the same thing in each class I knew that I had to change majors. I took fundamentals of television production and I guess you can say the rest is history. I love a job that is hands-on work and something you can watch grow into something amazing.

The more I write this article the more I am realizing maybe I am ready to be an adult. MAYBE. But as far as making doctor’s appointments, sorry mom that’s still your job.