But not as crazy as for my friends at Butler who are preparing for graduation one week from today --- one week! It's said too often, but it really is crazy how time flies!
Talking to my friends, I hear them freaking out about their next steps in life. It's scary working so hard and still not having an adult job mere days away from being completely done with college...point blank. You wonder if it was all worth it. You wonder if the late nights, freak-outs, lack of sleep and overcaffeination (yes, that's a word...in my mind) and the overall sacrifices you made are adding up to anything because you still don't have a definite future. It's frustrating. It's sickening. It's terrifying.
But, trust me, friends, it will happen. I know you're probably rolling your eyes at me and thinking, "Oh yeah, says the girl who has a job and a future on the path she always dreamed of," but it's true! You will find your path, and it will make you happy! Stop thinking about what others expect of you and what you always planned. Those voices will drag you into insanity if you let them take over (if you haven't already...I know how that goes! They're super hard to silence!). Remember, I was in your shoes just a mere semester (aka five months) ago. I was asking myself the same questions, having the same emotional breakdowns and running from the future I always looked so forward to facing. I didn't want to let anyone down who believed in me and invested so much time and energy into securing my future. I didn't want them to feel like it was all a waste because I wasn't doing anything.
But you will. And those "anyones" understand that it takes time. Some people will find their future more quickly than others, and that's just how it goes. You just have to be patient. It really is a virtue.
One song really helped me keep the faith when I was going through this post-graduate struggle. It's called "The Distance You Have Come" by Scott Alan. He's an amazing songwriter who every vocalist has used for an audition song at least once --- pure brilliance. Anyways, below are the lyrics to the song, along with a live performance by an amazing performer Mr. Alan discovered himself --- Natalie Weiss. I hope it serves you up some of the same doses of confidence and second winds that it did for me.
I don’t know where tomorrow finds me
The only thing I know is where I’m standing now
In this life there’s never been a guarantee
Which seems to be the only guarantee I’ve found
But keep your eyes upon the road – keep driving
It won’t be long until you see a sign that says that you’re arriving
And when you reach that day
When you conquer what’s behind you
Don’t forget the fight it took to get you there
And when you reach the top of the mountain you’ve been climbing
Don’t forget the distance you have come
It’s hard when no one tells you if you’re winning
But just remind yourself how far that you’ve already come
And some days you may feel that there is no ending
But if you give up now you’ll never know if you could have won
Keep your eyes upon the road – keep driving
It won’t be long until you see a sign that says that you’re arriving
And when you reach that day
When you conquer what’s behind you
Don’t forget the moments that have come before
And when you reach that place
When you’re miles from where you started
Don’t forget the distance you have come
And there’ll be days that the weight of the world will bind you
And you’re wondering if the world really needs you
But keep on going – keep on driving on
Cause the sign ahead will soon be behind you
And when you reach that day
When you conquer what’s behind you
Don’t forget the fight it took to get you there
And when you reach the top of the mountain you’ve been climbing
Don’t forget the distance you have come
When you conquer what’s behind you
Don’t forget the moments that have come before
And when you reach that place
When you’re miles from where you started
Don’t forget the distance
Don’t forget the distance
You have come
-The Distance You Have Come
music and lyrics by Scott Alan
www.scottalan.net
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