The Most Educational Year

One year ago today I graduated from the University of Florida. Like all college grads I was filled with excitement at all the possibilities that would soon be unfolding before me. After all, my entire life I had been told that the key to success was getting a college degree.

Please understand, I have no regrets about graduating from college. None, zero, zilch. Its the greatest achievement in my life to this point. What I do regret is how I graduated.

Allow me to explain. My entire time at UF, I visited the adviser's office maybe twice. Those that know me, know I am fiercely independent and that I like to do things without asking for help. In this instance I thought I could make it the whole way through college knowing what I already knew.

FALSE

But what's done is done and at the end of it all I still have a diploma to hang in some future office.

Remember how I mentioned being excited for the world of possibilities soon to unfold upon graduation? Turns out not so much.

The degree I earned was a Bachelor of Arts in History. I've always had a knack for history and a passion for teaching so I thought I'd just do that. As it would appear, you need experience to be trusted with shaping America's youth. I guess I would have known that had I ever met with an adviser.

Mistakes were made

In the weeks following commencement I spent hours scrolling Monster.com, Indeed, even Craigslist trying to find something that could pay for the student debt knocking on my door.

Recent graduates with liberal arts degrees are in surprisingly low demand. I tried my hand at entry level sales, that was awesome (read: awful). Finally I landed a job waiting tables. The money isn't great, but the government also isn't trying to seize my assets (like I have assets) to payback the education they funded.

This brings me full circle to the title, The Most Educational Year.

I can say without equivocation that the last 365 days have been the most difficult in my entire life. I've also learned more in the last year than all my other years combined.

Allow me to explain:

1. Humility - You'd think being underemployed because of my own hardheadedness would have taught me this, but it was actually having to move back into my childhood home and repeatedly ask my parents for money while I was getting back on my feet.
2. Simple Happiness - Two stories to illustrate this one. As I was getting home from a rather uninspiring day of work my dog ran out to the gate to meet me. I stood there petting him for probably 10 minutes and it just made my day so much better. A few days later as I was driving to work there was a homeless man standing on the corner and I realized I actually had a lot going for me. I have a car, a home, and a job. It really is the simple things that make us happy.
3. I Am Valuable - People often look at trials as a bad thing. This last year has shown me a different perspective. I realized God cares about me enough to place trials in my path. If He didn't want me to improve or care about me, He wouldn't test me so. I'm grateful to be considered worthy of such difficult trials. Have I performed admirably in every test? Not really. But that's all part of the process.

I don't know what the next year holds in store for me, but once again I am filled with hope for all the possibilities ahead.

Here's to the next great adventure!