Study Abroad then Life

So, I’m going to go study abroad again because it was so great the first time. This one is much shorter and during the summer. The Communication Studies program that I’m in sponsors a three week program in China—Hong Kong and Beijing—on the media and globalization. It’s being led by the Chairman of our department so it should be a great course, and interesting into the bargain.

So in May after school is over I’ll go to China for three weeks and finish up my college career. The course will earn me the final 6 credits I need to graduate from NYU. I can’t really express how simultaneously exciting and horrifying the idea of graduating is for me. If you stop and think about it, my entire life up to now has been preparation for the next stage of my education. But now there’s potentially no more eduction to prepare for; granted I could go on to graduate school and even a doctorate, but that’s not likely. I just don’t see the need for those kinds of degrees. At least for the very near future I don’t plan more school. So that means it’s time for a job and real life and all that goes along with that.

Like I said, I’m scared of that. As adult as I may be legally, I still don’t feel grown up at all. I long for the days when my mommy made decisions for me because honestly there are too darn many responsibilities in grown up life: from choosing what to buy at the grocery store to where to live to paying credit card bills and student loans.

In the end I know I don’t have much choice about growing up but that doesn’t make it any less nerve wracking. So for the next few months at least I’m gonna try not to think about it while at the same time thinking about it. Being an anal retentive as I am (like many in my family) I have to have a plan, so I’ll come up with one, but right now I can’t see what it is going to be. I suppose my Mom gives the best advice: go down the road and see what you can see, then go down the road and see a little further. Eventually you’ll see what you need to do.