“Your real life is only just beginning”: that’s what they say to everyone at the graduation ceremonies, honor society induction ceremonies, batch parties, what-have-you. I’ve been through the whole shebang once and am probably a bit jaded about this sort of rhetoric, which I heard again yesterday when my sister was inducted into the local chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. This morning, the high school graduates (in their white togas and mortarboards) holding their commencement exercises at the University Theater were probably about to hear the same thing, too.

It’s taken me a year to complete my thesis, but I’m handing in the final hardbound copies to my college on Friday, God willing. Now’s the hard part: what’s next? I am officially, and most definitely, a bum.

Before you say “You can go back to school and get a Ph.D.!” I will have to say that there is no way in hell that I will put myself through, uh, thesis hell again to earn a Ph.D. Strike it out. It’s not an option.

I could probably luxuriate in my newfound idleness until my parents kick me out onto the street — AKA never — but that wouldn’t be fair to them. Why in the world did they put me through so much school if I won’t try to make something of myself using what I’ve learned?

So, all the successful people I know have jobs. (Gee, I wonder why? Hehehe.) It’s time for me to find myself one soon. Maybe after my Boracay trip in two weeks. Or maybe in June? I’ve never held down a job before and I haven’t lived my life by a strict schedule since my last class in graduate school. (My poor longsuffering thesis adviser can attest to the “lack of a strict schedule” part). It’s going to be an adjustment. This is the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one in my life. And the worst part will be… NO MORE SUMMER BREAK. FOREVER.

Tags: Graduation, University