I thought graduation would hit me during senior week. Then I thought it would happen at the graduation ceremony or as we moved our stuff out of the village. When that didn't happen, I thought it would hit me over the summer. Then I figured it would for sure hit me when everyone else moved back to SMU without us. Finally, I thought it would hit me when I returned campus to visit. I thought I would feel really sad and really wish I could go back.

I didn't. It was nice to go back for a bit and see people, and it was interesting to see some of the changes since we left in May. I wasn't sad though. Not at all. I didn't feel a pang of jealousy for everyone who's still in college, as I had expected. I didn't find myself wishing I were still involved in the different clubs and activities that ran my life.

I didn't feel like an outsider either. That was surprising too. I figured if I didn't feel like I should still be a student that I would feel like an outsider, a visitor. That wasn't the case though. I still feel like a part of the SMU family, but I'm still more than happy to be done with the student part. I'm happy to not have to worry about homework and studying and making it to class. I'm happy to not have to worry about balancing my responsibilities in my activities with my social life and running schedule. I'm happy that my extra activites now are basically things I want to do, and for most of them, I don't have to go if I don't want to... which just makes it easier to want to be there.

This whole transition from college life to the "real world" has been so much easier than I ever expected. :)