Last night in Urbana
Well, folks, this is it. My last night here. It's kind of sad, really. I've slept well in this little town. Had a lot of good memories. Met a lot of great friends. Had some really awesome classes, some less so. It's been good.
Four and a half years ago, my plan was to attend the U of I for two years, and then transfer to UCLA. It was (and still is) my dream to live in California, even if only for a year or two. Plans change, though, and I did a little thing called the Disney College Program. I guess I believe that things are "meant to be," because the WDWCP set me slightly back, hours-wise, and I wouldn't have been able to transfer until midway through my junior year. By that point, I was comfortable here. So I stayed.
If I'd left, I would have missed out on a lot. Some wonderful roommates, mostly. I probably wouldn't have gone back to Orlando this summer if I'd been living in California, and I wouldn't have given up those month for anything.
So. I hadn't wanted to go to U of I in the first place. I was Michigan all the way, baby. But in the end, I got more education for my money here. I don't regret that decision. I hadn't wanted to stay at Illinois. But in the end, I don't regret that decision, either. I hope I never regret any of the big decisions I make in life.
Today, Aarti and I took pictures in our caps and gowns. We did goofy things, like climb up on the Alma Mater. We took nice, serious ones in front of the Gateway. Our fingers froze and the wind sent our tassles flying into our eyes and mouths. But it was good. Those are school landmarks, and I'm going to miss walking past them every day. I'm going to miss the Quad and the Union and the 70s glory that is the Psychology Building. I'll miss the unairconditioned, falling-apartness of Lincoln Hall, the peeling paint of Greg Hall, the too-freezing basement of the library. I'll miss being cooped up in 609 psych, listening to observations and struggling to transcribe them onto Macs. I'll miss stopping by Lance's basement office on Quad Day or just to chat, I'll miss his framed Jude Law picture that Meg and I gave him. I'll miss having Meghan and Aarti just a phone call and five-minute car ride away, I'll miss having Shelley in the next room over. I'll miss working at Assembly Hall, I'll miss mens basketball games and concerts and Sesame Street Live.
I'll miss the freedom of living on my own. I'm sure there are a ton more things I'm going to miss, like, say, my daily schedule of only having places to be an average of five or so hours of the day and thinking 7 am is early to wake up. But I'm glad to be done. There are a lot of things I won't miss, but I'd prefer not to think about them, because it's those missable things that made college wonderful.
Tonight, my parents, sister, grandparents, Amie and I went out to dinner. Then Jessica and I went with Sarah and Aarti and some of their friends to see a movie. It was the last time I'll do that kind of thing with them, because now everyone's scattering this way and that. I don't know when I'll see Amie again.
But tomorrow's the Big Day. We have lunch reservations at Silvercreek and the ceremony is at 4. And then I'll have graduated. Mission accomplished. Wow. Does it feel different to be a college graduate? I guess tomorrow, I'll let you know.