Bittersweet: Is That the Only Word We Can Use to Describe Graduating College?

Well would ya take a look at that :D :D :D
Seventeen years of writing papers, test taking, group projects, and coloring (of course, coloring is only in the beginning of school), and that ("that" referring to that portrait to your left) is the result you get. I must say, I am proud and 110% satisfied of the outcome 17 years of school has produced.


Yesterday, 4/30/2011, I became a Bachelor of Social Work, a graduate of college, and alumnae member of Oakland University. When conversing with friends and family yesterday, I noticed a reoccurring trend in the many conversations I partook in; the reoccurring question of "isn't graduating college bittersweet?" My immediate answer was "no," because I was beyond thrilled to receive my degree and proud of all of my accomplishments. But later, as I was laying in bed, preparing for the best nap of my life, I really dove into the question of, "Is graduating honestly and truly bittersweet?" Well, first let's define "bittersweet," shall we?

Bittersweet: (adj) both pleasant and painful or regretful.


Sure, a 33 page macro change paper, an 18 page thesis plus an e-portfolio, 10+ all nighters, 60 hours without sleep, 5 years of summer classes, 150 note cards for a biology test, and my first patch of gray hair, may definitely constitute for the "bitter" aspect of my college existence. On the contrary, when I sincerely look back at my golden grizzly experience, the "sweet" outweighed the "bitter" by a long shot.

My "sweet" experiences in college were so amazing and rewarding; they were so joyous that I believe I could have given up cheesecake for the past 5 years and still felt as though my sweet tooth was being satisfied.  I mean, what other type of happiness can come from:

• Belonging to such an accepting and loving organization, also known as Alpha Delta Pi
• And representing that astounding sorority by serving as President from 2009-2010
• Meeting sorority sisters who became friends, then best friends, and eventually my family
• Venturing to Georgia to immerse myself in Alpha Delta Pi history, while soakin up that sassy Georgia sunshine
• Switching my major three times, finally to find a subject that I am so passionate about, and then being rewarded for my hard work by receiving my Bachelor of Social Work
• Being able to perform Verdi's Requiem at the Detroit Opera House
• Randomly going on an impromptu trip to Michigan State
• Having a water balloon fight in my dorm room
• Living at the student apartments, when my room was actually located in the dorms
• Being blessed with belonging to two honor's societies, earning the Michigan Campus Compact "Heart and Soul Award" for excessive community service, and being recognized at OU for a silly amount of community service hours (411.25, the highest amount of logged volunteer hours at OU)
• Moving more times than you can count (dorms to home, home to dorms, dorms to the sorority house, the sorority house to home, home to the sorority house, the sorority house to home, home to an apartment, and one apartment to another apartment)
• Spending four days in the south on a boat, having the best time of my life with amazing people, even if it rained 3 days out of four
• Venturing down to Manchester, TN in 120 degree weather to surround myself with every type of music genre imaginable, getting weird tan lines, and having swollen ankles from standing for 18 hours, only to anticipate returning to Bonnaroo the next year
• Going on the most crazy, memorable vacations with those I love more than life
• Living for stories

If you find yourself hating college and finding it more "bitter" than "sweet," please do yourself a favor: live in the dorms (even if only for one semester), join an organization that you honestly take pride in, say "hi" to everyone you know (even if you don't feel like making conversation at that moment in time), say "hi" to people you don't know, smile at those you pass, study a subject you are truly passionate about, take your time deciding your major, switch your major, take a road trip with those you love, go out of your comfort zone, have confidence in your decisions, take classes that interest you (even if they don't count towards your major), and get your heart broken and even break a few hearts (college is about being single, dating  people, and seeing who you are compatible with). You should never have more "bitter" than "sweet" feelings leaving college, and when you find yourself dancing in line waiting for your diploma (i.e. what I was doing), you will know that you made the most out of every moment.