Two weeks ago I graduated from the University of Central Florida with my bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. It was an amazing milestone in my life and I wanted to share some photos I took before the big moment walking across the stage. Other than the solo photos I took, I invited some of my closest friends that were with me throughout my undergraduate years and who were my biggest supporters through the hardships. Not everyone could make it, but a majority did and we had some fun playing in the reflection pond on campus and making silly faces.
Now that two weeks have passed, I definitely see my life in a different way and have more than just positive feelings about having graduated. I wanted to share some feelings I've been having about everything that's happened since. I'm not going to lie, life is just scary. I am a planner, a dreamer, and very goal driven. For the past four years, I have pushed myself to work hard and go for opportunities that I viewed would help me get to where I want to ultimately be.
During one of my internships, I talked to someone in my field of interest and they told me to be able to accomplish what I want in life, I have to be realistic and to go towards my goals by not viewing the actual goal and dream I have, but by the steps that I know I need to take to get to that end. After being told this, I changed what I did in life and worked hard to get as many opportunities to help me get my foot in the door of where I want to be and doing what I have dreamed of.
Being completely realistic is something that is pretty hard for me, because at my root, I am an optimistic dreamer. I always wanted (and thought I would have) a job in my field by the time I graduated with my bachelor's degree. Of course, that's really optimistic and it was not what happened in my case. The day after my graduation, and if you know me personally I still feel like this, I got really sad because I had not landed my dream job yet, or any job in my field at the least. The weekend after my graduation I let it bring me down a bit and I knew that I could not allow that to continue. I worked hard throughout college and I could not let myself just fall into a depression because I passed by a bump in the road.
I have to consciously remind myself that everything is still alright, that I am going to graduate school in the fall and I still have my internship in the exact field that I want to work in. There are still positive things going on in my life and it is more than what some people may have after they graduate. Even though I have to consciously remind myself these things, it has kept my head up and thinking more positively. Which is also what sparked my return to my website, blogging was something that allowed me to express myself throughout the latter years of undergrad that was something I was passionate about but not related to criminal justice. I am constantly applying to jobs in my field still and not allowing myself to give up but I know I need to also put more effort in other things that make me happy that have no chance of rejecting me. This is my place, and a place where I can be me and nothing can stop me, I don't have to worry about not getting hired because I'm already here and this is my voice.
This new spark in my life is my new motivation for my life post grad. Not only do I need to keep following the steps that are required to get myself in my field and work where my dreams always take me, but to also have other passions. This is a whole new chapter in my life that for once, I have no plans for and am taking everything day by day (for once in my life) and I'm excited.
What are your dreams? Till next time.
xo, Carla Mae
Post a Comment