Sudden and New

“What is this feeling? So sudden and new?”

These questions sung by the character Glenda in the must-see musical “Wicked” are ones that I find myself pondering lately

. The infamous “they” said that the college years would go by fast and encouraged the undefined “us” to savor it, but never really offered any advice for what to do when you find yourself at the end. So, here I am at the end surprise, excited, and trying to learn all the answers before I’m forced out of this place.

Freshman year began with many promises. “You’ll find your best friends.” “It’ll be some of the most fun you’ll ever have” “You won’t want to leave.” As I look back over these last three and a half years and remember these promises, I do not feel disappointed or cheated at all. In fact, I banked. I have not just made friends, but incredible relationships with wonderful women who know way too much about me and love me more than I deserve. ‘Fun’ only scratches the surface in describing beautiful moments of laughter so rich you don’t think you’ll survive paired with other irreplaceable pieces that make up the memories I treasure. However, I do think I’ll want to leave when the time comes. This mindset does not grow from the same place the I’m-so-over-this high school attitude did though. Instead, it rises from a place that knows it’s time and that I’m ready. Or at least will be.

So, what is this feeling? I don’t know. There’s yet to be a box discovered that fits it. I know that future holds failures, triumphs, and things I would have never expected, but that’s all I really have figured out so far. This uncertainty causes me

to press into my God ever the more as I walk the path that leads to

somewhere while pursuing, shaping, and cultivating these odd little things called dreams.

I think I understand why “they” never gave up the answers of what to do when you reach the end. If they did, we wouldn’t be able to come to the conclusion all by ourselves that we’re ready, prepared, and want to meet the illusive “real world”

To those who will face the end of the collegiate era with me: With anxiety in our hearts and motivation propelling us forward we begin something not sudden, but definitely new. I think we’re ready.

To those who are still drinking deeply life as students and residents of Aggieland: It’ll go by fast, savor it.