Graduation is an exciting time for everyone, especially the final graduation for most, which is college. You come into college knowing you have about four years, give or take, until you receive your diploma. For some, an extra semester or two is necessary, but for others there is one or two less semesters. When I say one or two less semesters, I am hinting at the fact that it is possible for some students to graduate early. In my case, I will be graduating a semester early.

 

With graduating in December, caps and gowns just went on sale last week. There were many students on the bottom floor of the Reed Union building waiting in line to pick up their cap and gown. It most definitely was a strange feeling being there purchasing the last cap and gown that I will ever wear.

 

Graduating in December is different for Behrend students because this ceremony is smaller than the one in the spring, so it is held in the Junker Center rather than the Erie Insurance Arena. Personally, I am excited to be able to walk across the stage in the Junker Center because as a student athlete here at Behrend, I have had so many memorable moments in the gym.

 

For students, the real world is right around the corner when they graduate. With graduating early, you as a student can be ahead of other students who will not be graduating until May. For those who are really on top of their game, they may have already had multiple interviews or even have a job lined up before graduation in December. Some students may be taking their time and start job searching in December for any and all opportunities that start in the summer of 2018. I personally have had a few interviews over the past few months and have a few more coming up. I like to think that I have stayed very proactive with job hunting and that was my plan when I first decided that I was going to graduate early.

 

In high school, you often become so excited to graduate alongside all of your best friends in your class. As for college, when you graduate early and have friends who are the same year in school that you are, you may not be graduating with them. Not everyone graduates early and not everyone graduates on time. This is tough for someone like me who only knows a handful of people graduating in December, but at the end of the day I am thrilled to be graduating early and I know that all my true friends will be there to support me in the audience.

 

It is still very surreal that I will be graduating in a little over a month. I have worked very hard to get where I am today, so I am ecstatic to take on the next adventure in my life. Although, originally being from Pittsburgh and moving to Erie for school, I can honestly say that I will really miss living in Erie during the school year, but I am ready to see what Pittsburgh has in store for me!