Summer's End

Summers are always surprisingly shorter than expected. Whether you’re a preschooler, college kid, or working adult, it’s imperative that you make the absolute most of it. And when you’re somehow all three, things can be kind of crazy.

It’s really weird watching your cousins and friends go back into school and not be going back yourself. After all, I’ve been doing it practically my entire life. Two years of preschool, thirteen years in the public-school system, two years at Columbia Greene, a year and a half at New Paltz, and even a semester abroad. It’s been a long road, everything culminating in this one moment in May where everyone walks the stage, throws their caps in the air and says goodbye to it all. Everything, for this one meaningless degree that you’re still not even sure what to do with. It’s bittersweet. Retiring from a place you’ve called home for the last two years; saying goodbye, even if temporary, to the great and wonderful friends you’ve made and the experiences that defined you up to this point.

So when you graduate college, and realize that this is the end of the road and you don’t have to go back, what do you do?

For me, go back to square one apparently!

The Course After College

I wasn’t exactly sure what to do coming out of college. For a while, I was a history education major, looking to teach in high school. It was something that interested me since I was high school, and almost as soon as I’d left high school I’d wanted to come back to it and impact kids in a way that my teachers had impacted me. Then, about halfway through my junior year of college, things started to change. My heart wasn’t in it anymore, and if I wasn’t one hundred percent dedicated, then what was the point? I needed time to decide what I really wanted to do, and if I would return to higher education. I opted to become a history major for the time being, which both broadened the potential job choices outside of college and bought me more time to figure out what I was doing.

But the problem is, and this still something I struggle with a lot, is that you never really do get it figured out. You can change your major, travel to the other side of the world, go through two different jobs, meet new friends, take new classes, and a year and a half later still have no idea what the heck you’re doing. And, that’s okay. Because life isn’t about having it figured out. It’s about where you are now; who you are now.

Of course, as much of a spiritual life lesson that may be, it doesn’t exactly help when you’re a week away from graduating and have no idea what to do after college. So you start applying to as many places as you can for as many positions as you can: veterinarian, postal worker, the guy who sells popcorn at the movies, house cleaner. I even applied to be a guy that picks up horse shit. And I never even got an interview! They say when one door is closed, there’s another one that will open for you. But I could’ve sworn it was like I was going through some convoluted maze where I’ve tried every door twice and I'd still have no idea if I’m even going the right way.

But then it’s when you least expect it that the right door opens, and you forget all the other doors because deep down you know this is the right door. I’d told my aunt about my problems with job hunting, and how I had no idea where I was headed or what I even wanted to do. And she told me, “You should come work where I work, at the preschool! Come in for a day, volunteer, see if you like it.” I knew I was good with kids, and something told me maybe I had a shot here. I came in, volunteered for a day, absolutely loved it, immediately met the boss, and she almost hired me on the spot.

And not even a month after graduating college, I had a secure, full time job in a field I wanted to be in, doing something I could guarantee I loved doing.

Making it all Work

You would think that, like almost every other school, summers would be off in preschool, and like other teachers, you would get the summers off. Unfortunately, that’s not quite the case, and for the first time in my life I had both a real job and an already fairly packed summer. I’m actually fairly glad that turned out to be the case though: the money is certainly useful, and more than that, with things being just a little more relaxed during the summer I got a jump start on much needed experience that I know I’ll need once things pick up with the regular year starting soon. And it’s a lot to learn: how to change diapers, plan lessons, keep kids engaged and entertained, handle disputes over who had what toy first, monitor playground safety, organize a classroom, and even how to build a spaceship (cardboard, but still).

That alone has made for an incredibly packed but fun-filled summer. And although it’s my first full time job and it’s an adjustment both not being in college and not having the summer off, I’ve adjusted well, and I can really say I love being here.

With your days being as packed as they are, it really makes you realize how valuable your time is, and how to spend your time when you’re not in school. Wasting time has always been something I struggled with, and now that I have a full time job, it’s become even more important to spend the time you have outside school and work doing what you love. And for me, that’s a great many things: writing, hiking, biking, watching movies, to name a few. But more than that, it’s who I spent my summer with that made it special.

I spend a lot of time with my family, and I’m incredibly glad to be as close with my family as I am. It goes without saying that being home from college and living at home, I see my parents a lot more, and though our time together isn’t nearly as thrilling as being with my college mates it’s very special. Along with my sister, the four of us always make an effort to spend some family time together, and we’ve been able to go on a lot of walks, play a lot of board games, and eat a lot more Dairy Queen than any of us probably should. There’s also the many times I hung out with my cousins, whether it be going mini golfing, watching the car races, playing on the local playground (despite being all in high school or older), or simply crashing at my grandparents for lunch and ice cream.

One of my favorite memories this summer though, has to be driving to Binghamton to reunite with some of my college mates. I knew pretty much as soon as I left college that it wasn’t a matter of if I see my mates again, but when. We all had a special connection during my senior year of college, and friendships like that only come once or twice a lifetime. So I decided pretty quickly I’d need to start planning some trips to see them again. Luckily, Noah and Brian only live two and a half hours away in Binghamton, while most of the others live in the city or Long Island, and one’s now all the way in Arizona.

I got there, and the three (soon four) of us immediately returned to our old college-selves, making all the stupid jokes we would before and acting like nothing’s changed. Truthfully, it’d only been a month or two, so not much did change, but it was special and heartwarming to know that we’d be able to keep all our old shenanigans up after college. So we played Mario games, watched dumb YouTube videos, went out to eat, ranted about communism, gambled, and ate more fried chicken than I thought was possible. But for as much goofing off as we did, it was incredibly significant, and I’m so thankful both for the opportunity, and that both Noah’s and Brian’s families were so welcoming and fun. I’m really looking forward to going back soon, and definitely going to have to plan out trips to see the other mates soon!

A First for Everything

Perhaps one of the best parts of summer was that there was a lot I got to experience for the first time. I’d never had to balance work and a social life in a way like this, and although sometimes it’s difficult, I think it’s turned out great. I really do feel fulfilled both in work and in my relationships in a way I never did before. And a lot of that has to do with taking random steps towards growing. It’s simple, but I’d never driven to Binghamton before, and never reunited with friends after being apart. Although I knew we would be friends in some capacity outside college, sometimes you don’t know how close your friendships are until you’re away from each other for a long time. And that, among other reasons, is why that was one of the most significant parts of the summer.

In a similar fashion, I felt the same way about my cousins, my other best friends. We’d normally spend our entire summers together at my grandparents, and with me having a full time job I was worried how it might affect our relationship with me not there. But I think I became closer with them than I ever have this summer, and part of that has do with us consciously making efforts to see each other. I watched The Dark Knight for the first time and am now obsessed with the movie (ten years late, I know). I planned two trips to New York City with different cousins; one to do the Brooklyn Bridge walk and The World Trade Center, and the other to visit the USS Intrepid. And that’s all pretty big stuff to do for a simple guy like me (wait until you climb onto an aircraft carrier or are at the top of the tallest building in the country, you’ll be surprised how intimidating it is).

I climbed the Adirondacks for the first time this summer, seeing the beauty of some of the greatest mountains in the Northeast. I saw a bald eagle up close and personal, built a cardboard spaceship, led a classroom, lost money gambling (only $3), and so much more.

I wasn’t sure how everything would turn out after college. I wasn’t sure how I’d handle teaching, or a full time job. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep friendships going after college. But maybe, just maybe, it turns out I’ve got this whole act together. And if the start of the school year, a new class, and the beginning of autumn means anything, I’m sure my new and upcoming adventures will be just as exciting.