Countdowns:Go Home for Easter Break: 6 days
End of My Junior Year of College: 27 days
Move into My Apartment: 28 days
My Long Awaited 21st Birthday: 49 days
Leave for Rwanda: 65 days
I have a lot of exciting things heading my way over the next several weeks. I am having a bit of a crisis, though, thanks to them. Soon, I will be a college senior. Whoa...seriously? When did THAT happen?! 75% of my college career is nearly behind me, and soon, I will be out in the "real world."
The real world... hmm...what does that even mean? I get a job? I start paying bills? I buy my own insurance? Is that all the real world entails? Just simply growing up and joining humdrum adulthood officially? Well, that doesn't sound fun at all now does it? That can't just be all the real world has to offer us. If that were the truth, why wouldn't everyone just stay in college and live in their parent's basements forever? The real world must be more than just all that responsibility rubbish.
...Right?
Well you know me, of course I'm going to go with right! Especially since that makes me right! (Oh my own self pride and adoration, do you have no bounds?! Humph, apparently not.) All humor aside though, what about the real world makes it appealing? All anyone ever harps about is "bills this" and "work that." I don't know about you, but I for one do not wish to live in a life like that. I am under no illusions that the real world isn't made up of bills, jobs, and the boring, but I refuse to accept that's all there is.
So then, what is it? Well, let's think.
Independence
New Adventures
Sacrifice
Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Accomplishment
Self-Growth
Reaching Goals
Improvement
Failure
Material Gains
Hard Work
Boring Moments
Exciting Moments
New Chapters
Honestly, I think the real world is whatever you make it. It can be one thing or all of the above. Really it's up to each individual. If one is ok with a boring humdrum life full of complaint and living on memories of the good ole days, well that's what the real world is then. But, if you put your grown up pants on and aren't afraid to take risks, be wrong, and work hard, then maybe juuuuust maybe the real world can be better than the "fake world" or whatever it is we college students are living in now. (Hmm interesting thought, if we aren't in the real world then what world are we in exactly? I just don't know?)
I am definitely going to go with a glass half full approach. How about you?
"The real world is whatever you make it."
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I like this post, Rachel.
Great insight, Rachel! You've arrived at some wise and mature revelations at a much younger age than I did (and am still doing). The real world is where you apply yourself to make a real difference.
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