Haha, get it?
Welcome back.
Here we are friends, a day away from graduation. I thought that it was only fitting that I put one more post up on this thing to mark the end of my undergrad career, since this blog has seen at least a part of me for the last four years.
The general consensus around here right now is that what they say is true: your college years fly by, FAST. My roommates and I are all in this nostalgic whirlwind of trying to have maybe just one too many at Phyrst Happy Hour, fit in all the things we wanted to in this valley, take the 97th grad pic and say our good-byes to everything we've known for the last four years.
I feel like I run to the blog whenever something significant happens in my life, and to be honest, this time isn't much different. The last few weeks have been filled with a COMPLETE thesis, studying for finals, plenty of emotions and trying to figure out what's coming in the next few months.
This time last week, I was setting up for one of the largest student-run music festivals in the country. For those of you that don't know, over the course of this year, I have served as the Director of Sponsorship for Movin' On alongside 10 of the most incredible and driven human beings I have ever met.
Most of you know that before our headliner was scheduled to begin his set, we had to cancel the end of the show due to severe weather. As we were told the news, a million things ran through our minds. A year's worth of work, how were we going to continue to lead our teams, what about our emotions? But what was so beautiful about hearing some of the worst news was that in that moment, we became a family. We stood in our huddle, staring at each other with tears running down our faces, knowing it was time to put on our game faces and handle the situation in the way that our festival deserved. We continued to lead our organization in the best way we knew how: together.
While the rest of the night was incredibly tough in balancing emotions, exhaustion and disappointment, I couldn't help but look around and be thankful. A group of students built and executed a HUGE festival for their peers, all because they wanted to share their love of music with the Penn State community. Despite it not ending the way we had planned, the way in which we stepped up in a time when others wouldn't have is something I will be forever proud of.
So, as you can probably tell, I've spent a lot of time thinking about the last week... instead of studying for my finals. It's for sure going to take awhile to find some closure on the last year of my life flipped upside down within a span of 30 minutes last Friday night, but if I can put anything into words on a page, it's this:
Penn State gave me this experience for a reason. Movin' On was by far my favorite chapter of my college experience, but like every good thing, it comes at a time when you need it most and it ends in the same fashion, even if you don't understand it at the time.
Over the last four years, Penn State challenged me to grow up, to handle #adulting, to know when to step up and lead, and importantly, to lead by example. It hasn't always been easy. There's been quite a few downs to every up on this rollercoaster of a college experience, but in the end, all of this has made me who I am today.
Penn State put people in my life when I needed them most: people that never left my side during a setback and people that celebrated every comeback. People that volunteered to ugly cry with a bottle of Moscato over a boy and people that stayed up all night with me in the library to finish my 381749 ECON assignments. People that made me feel loved and supported, even when I wasn't feeling my best.
So, yes, I'm now tearing up as I give my final sign-off from undergrad (I'm sure you're shocked).
When I think of Penn State, I'll remember the lessons I learned when things didn't go as planned, how I chose to grow up when the easier option would have been to give up, and the love (and laughs) from relationships that mean the world to me.
And honestly, thank God I learned how to use my fighting words properly, because I'll definitely need those in law school.
To my pals from the last four years (and especially SLB), thank you for shaping my path at this University. For showing me the way, for making me laugh beyond belief, for never failing to put a smile on my face.
To ITA, thank you for making my last THON the best I've ever had. For showing me the true meaning of caring for others, for holding my hand through an amazing and meaningful adventure.
To the Movin' On 2018 Exec Board, thank you for being the family I needed. For picking me up last April after one of the hardest times in my life, for being the most resilient people I have ever met, for walking this journey with me.
To 1004, thank you for being the most supportive best friends I could ever ask for. For being my sisters through all the ups and all the downs, for never questioning feelings, for always being there for a snug on the big red couch or a night out on the town, for being my backbone, my rocks, through absolutely everything. I would not be standing here today without you. #RushPhiPughPugh
Thank you to the people that turned into family, to the four years that turned into the best of my life, to the zip code that became a home.
Thank you, Penn State. I'm Movin' On.
Holy guac, I'm graduating,
Kirst
Welcome back.
Here we are friends, a day away from graduation. I thought that it was only fitting that I put one more post up on this thing to mark the end of my undergrad career, since this blog has seen at least a part of me for the last four years.
The general consensus around here right now is that what they say is true: your college years fly by, FAST. My roommates and I are all in this nostalgic whirlwind of trying to have maybe just one too many at Phyrst Happy Hour, fit in all the things we wanted to in this valley, take the 97th grad pic and say our good-byes to everything we've known for the last four years.
I feel like I run to the blog whenever something significant happens in my life, and to be honest, this time isn't much different. The last few weeks have been filled with a COMPLETE thesis, studying for finals, plenty of emotions and trying to figure out what's coming in the next few months.
This time last week, I was setting up for one of the largest student-run music festivals in the country. For those of you that don't know, over the course of this year, I have served as the Director of Sponsorship for Movin' On alongside 10 of the most incredible and driven human beings I have ever met.
Most of you know that before our headliner was scheduled to begin his set, we had to cancel the end of the show due to severe weather. As we were told the news, a million things ran through our minds. A year's worth of work, how were we going to continue to lead our teams, what about our emotions? But what was so beautiful about hearing some of the worst news was that in that moment, we became a family. We stood in our huddle, staring at each other with tears running down our faces, knowing it was time to put on our game faces and handle the situation in the way that our festival deserved. We continued to lead our organization in the best way we knew how: together.
While the rest of the night was incredibly tough in balancing emotions, exhaustion and disappointment, I couldn't help but look around and be thankful. A group of students built and executed a HUGE festival for their peers, all because they wanted to share their love of music with the Penn State community. Despite it not ending the way we had planned, the way in which we stepped up in a time when others wouldn't have is something I will be forever proud of.
So, as you can probably tell, I've spent a lot of time thinking about the last week... instead of studying for my finals. It's for sure going to take awhile to find some closure on the last year of my life flipped upside down within a span of 30 minutes last Friday night, but if I can put anything into words on a page, it's this:
Penn State gave me this experience for a reason. Movin' On was by far my favorite chapter of my college experience, but like every good thing, it comes at a time when you need it most and it ends in the same fashion, even if you don't understand it at the time.
Over the last four years, Penn State challenged me to grow up, to handle #adulting, to know when to step up and lead, and importantly, to lead by example. It hasn't always been easy. There's been quite a few downs to every up on this rollercoaster of a college experience, but in the end, all of this has made me who I am today.
Penn State put people in my life when I needed them most: people that never left my side during a setback and people that celebrated every comeback. People that volunteered to ugly cry with a bottle of Moscato over a boy and people that stayed up all night with me in the library to finish my 381749 ECON assignments. People that made me feel loved and supported, even when I wasn't feeling my best.
So, yes, I'm now tearing up as I give my final sign-off from undergrad (I'm sure you're shocked).When I think of Penn State, I'll remember the lessons I learned when things didn't go as planned, how I chose to grow up when the easier option would have been to give up, and the love (and laughs) from relationships that mean the world to me.
And honestly, thank God I learned how to use my fighting words properly, because I'll definitely need those in law school.
To my pals from the last four years (and especially SLB), thank you for shaping my path at this University. For showing me the way, for making me laugh beyond belief, for never failing to put a smile on my face.
To ITA, thank you for making my last THON the best I've ever had. For showing me the true meaning of caring for others, for holding my hand through an amazing and meaningful adventure.
To the Movin' On 2018 Exec Board, thank you for being the family I needed. For picking me up last April after one of the hardest times in my life, for being the most resilient people I have ever met, for walking this journey with me.
To 1004, thank you for being the most supportive best friends I could ever ask for. For being my sisters through all the ups and all the downs, for never questioning feelings, for always being there for a snug on the big red couch or a night out on the town, for being my backbone, my rocks, through absolutely everything. I would not be standing here today without you. #RushPhiPughPugh
Thank you to the people that turned into family, to the four years that turned into the best of my life, to the zip code that became a home.
Thank you, Penn State. I'm Movin' On.
Holy guac, I'm graduating,
Kirst
