Degree'd

And 4 more weeks 'til I present my senior project, which is all I sleep / eat / breathe / feel / am worth.

It's kind of a bummer, because I wish I could enjoy the newly-sprouted blossoms and warm, sunshine-y weather of springtime. Most of my days are spent in windowless basements, so I don't even get to stare longingly outside.

No worries though, because as of now I don't have a job post-graduation. So I will have LOTS of time to sit in the sun and recoup any grain of sanity I have left. At least that's what I tell myself as I lose touch with reality.

Regarding completing senior project, job hunting, or finding something else to do after graduation, my attitude has slowly shifted from


to





and currently




which I think is quite a common series of emotions for people completing their senior thesis or project.

To anyone else out there going through the same thing, I UNDERSTAND. We will get through this together. There's strength in numbers. Fellow graduating-students-who-are-procrastinating-on-the-internet, I SALUTE YOU.

WHATEVER. The most important holiday is today anyways.

February 13th is Galentine's Day-- a holiday invented by the witty, smart, and beautiful Leslie Knope on the TV show Parks & Rec.

If you've never seen the Galentine's Day episode, I suggest you start your festivities by pulling up Netflix and watching Season 2, Ep 16. It's life changing.

Then grab your best female pals, dress up, and head to the nearest diner to celebrate your awesomeness and love for each other over large, fluffy stacks of waffles (Knope's favorite). They're cheap! They're delicious! Perfect for broke college students or graduates like me.

Then spend the night drinking wine (or personally I prefer whiskey) and watching an inspirational movie where a strong female lead kicks ass and defies everyone's expectations.

Some flick recommendations:
    Erin Brokovich
    The Hunger Games
    Diary of a Mad Black Woman
    Brave
    Mulan
    Kill Bill
    Spirited Away

Stay fiesty my fellow females. Go get into some trouble.

Last year, my senior friends were finishing up their last few credits on campus before they high-tailed it outta there like the roadrunner from Looney Tunes.

A lucky few had jobs lined up.

A few.

A terrifyingly large amount of friends were SOL, remaining at their unpaid internships or finding minimum-wage coffee shop jobs. Even worse, a lot of 'em had to perform one of the most dreaded, yet increasingly common, rituals of college graduation -- moving back home with mom and dad.

That feeling of self-accomplishment from their glorious graduation ceremonies (ya know, the ones with the bright blue gowns and golden tassels, proud relatives and "congratulations!" dinners), couldn't have faded away any quicker.

It makes sense. You move in with the padres. You save money on rent. You stand a better chance at paying off those infamous student loans that were supposed to lead you to a good-paying job in the first place.

This is the current living situation of way too many graduates.

Then there's me. Poor, foolish, little ol' me.

A year ago, I was only a junior. I had a whooole year ahead of me and I thought, That won't be me. I have a strong resume. Good connections. High GPA. A friendly personality. I totally got this job thing under control.

Here I am, senior year, and I'm about to finish my last term of college.

Guess who doesn't have a job yet? This brilliant gal right here!

My hometown is in a whole different region of the United States. If I have to move home, I'll be far away from all the contacts I've made in my industry. Away from all of the best friends I've accumulated these last four years. Away from the tall skyscrapers and the food carts with the $2.50 egg and cheese sandwiches.

I'm starting to discover the truth behind what it means to earn a college degree. This piece of paper that I'm about to acquire is meant to differentiate me from the world. To make people chase after me on the street begging to hire me. To make me worthy of a livable salary. Yet, as graduation nears, I realize that being officially degree'd might be more of a curse than a blessing.

Please join me in my adventures of entering the real world.

Job applications! Senior year stresses! A hopeless love life! The race against having to move back home!

It'll be a good time.