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Many of my devoted fans (humor me here) have no doubt noticed that I never posted a final "What I Learned This Semester" or "What I Learned In College" rambling, and in fact have hardly even mentioned the huge change in my life caused by graduating from college and starting into the business world. Heck, the very spring/summer/fall organization of the ramblings is affected by this change.
Well, for one thing, I've decided to keep the same organization for the ramblings. I just don't see much point in changing things up. I may slightly tinker with the months involved in each grouping, but I'm keeping them the same. I'm too lazy to go back and edit the old ones, and besides, it's a good grouping system.
I think my main reason for waiting so long to write this is because of the sheer enormity of the change, coupled with the fact that since I started work, I haven't had a tremendous amount of free time. The latter fact seems to be changing now that Bobby's gone, and I'm getting a better grasp of the former.
I'm not going to lie to you. I miss parts of the college life. I miss the independence, the endless card games, the staying up late, the sleeping late, the only having a few hours of responsibility a day, and having tons of friends around you most of the time.
But at the same time, I love the working world. It's completely different in so many ways that I'll probably save for a future rambling. Of course, actually having money is nice, but not feeling like you're wasting time is even better. I like feeling constructive...in the vast majority of classes in college, I felt like I was wasting my time. The real world hasn't proven me wrong yet...I haven't come across a problem at work where I needed anything beyond high school math. My boss hasn't asked me to explain the difference between the motifs of any Shakespeare plays. And don't get me started on how useless physics was.
So what's my take on this huge change? I honestly can't think of what to say, and I've been trying to for the past three months. It's a change that everyone has to go through. Some look forward to it, and some dread it. I guess I was probably in the group that was looking forward to it. I was getting tired of college toward the end. But I must admit that it's really weird this week thinking about the fact that I'm not going back to school. Thus far, this summer has been much like last summer. I'm not sure if it has sunk into my brain that I'm not ever going back to school. I think the first time I go to Tuscaloosa after school starts, whether for a football game or just to see Tammy, will be weird. It will probably hit me then.
The BCM presents me with having to cope with the fact that it can continue on just fine without me. I had trouble accepting this same fact when I graduated high school and left the Chapel Choir behind. It was hard for me to accept that things would go on just like they always had, but without me. Sure, my name might have come up every now and then amongst some of my closest friends, but they didn't spend their time sitting around reminiscing about when I was there or feeling sorry because I wasn't. The BCM's the same way. It's weird to think that there will be a whole class of freshmen who either won't know who I am or will simply know me as "Tammy's boyfriend". Discovery will happen every week, without me there to play some part in its setup. The place will get cleaned up without my helping. Card games will continue on, and I'll have no part. I'm planning on going to all the home football games this year, but after that, they too will go on without my always being there.
So what's my point in all of this? I'm not sure that there is one...that's why it's called a rambling. College is over. Yes, I miss it. But I'm very happy in the business world. I'd be lying if I said I was completely used to it (especially the getting up at 6:30 AM and not getting home until 5 PM), but I like it. It's different. And I think that's what I needed.