Graduation day felt surreal. My first thought as I looked around at the sea of faces was, "I'm never going to see most of these people again." I was dumbfounded. I didn't know what to do or how to react. Friends I had grown so close with over four years were now heading in completely separate directions. This was it. This was real life.
The realization hit me hard. Life is getting real, too real. There's no more structured path. Every moment, every choice suddenly felt heavier. What do you do with your free time? I hadn't been conscious of how much that question would matter until I listened to the audiobook for The Defining Decade by Meg Jay. It was worth every minute. It reframed my thinking; the things you do now are the things you choose to do. People are out there chasing what they want, and it was time for me to figure that out for myself.
A Summer of Goodbyes
This past summer, which officially ended just last week, was a season of goodbyes. Seeing friends from graduation go our separate ways, knowing that our connection would now live mostly through texts and the occasional, "Are you in the area for lunch?" was a tough pill to swallow. Two weeks after graduation, I caught up with a friend from Princeton, and we just talked about this new, strange phase of life and how every decision feels like it's changing you forever.
New York: A Breath of Fresh Air
A few days later, I went to New York for a week, needing to get outside of my home environment near Boston. The experience was a breath of fresh air. I met up with old friends who were in the NYC area and just caught up on their lives. But my favorite day, besides hanging out with them, was simply sitting in one of those long chairs at Domino Park in Williamsburg. Overlooking the Manhattan skyline, with the Brooklyn Bridge to my left, is an inspiring sight. Seeing everyone bustling around, going about their lives, motivates you. It's a powerful reminder that you're the only one in control of your own life.
North Carolina: A Different World
From the hustle of New York, I traveled to North Carolina for a week to celebrate my cousins' engagement party. It was wonderful to see them after so many months, but it was also a reminder of how quickly time passes. I hadn't seen some of my family there in over three or four years. The lifestyle difference was shocking compared to NYC. Staying in the Greensboro and Charlotte areas, I was constantly comparing the two worlds. There, life was all about one thing: family.
The Impromptu Adventure
Two weeks after North Carolina, I did something completely impromptu. I booked a trip to Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Little did I know, this would become a worthwhile journey of experiencing new things, learning more about myself, and finally seeing what the Midwest and the West Coast were all about.
Chicago: My First Time in the Midwest
The city reminded me of New York, but more spread out and with its own unique vibe. I stayed in the West Loop and explored Wicker Park, River North, Streeterville, and Chinatown. Seeing "The Bean" for the first time was a classic tourist moment, but what really captured me was the view from the Navy Pier, looking back at the beautiful, urban skyline. I didn't know this initially but House music actually originated from Chicago and I am a really big House music fan.
