As you all know, I spent Saturday and Sunday this weekend
celebrating my baby brother’s college graduation. It felt so nice to be back in
the place where I spend four wonderfully lovely years. In so many ways, it’s
exactly the same. I passed college students inflating a baby pool in front of
an apartment building (anyone remember the “cuze” or the slip-n-slide???); we
sat at the bar at Mad Mex on Cinco de Mayo; we took our pictures at the JoePa
statue; and we had the most delicious dinner at Spats. I sat in my brother’s
filthy college apartment with sticky floors and questionable couches and
absolutely loved it.
Graduation was this morning, and it felt like such déjà vu,
particularly because D also graduated from the College of Business. So many of
the same professors, the familiar majors, the blue caps and gowns. In fact, the
freshmen that I mentored my senior year were graduating today, so I got to see
them walk across the stage. We’ve all really come a long way.
Of course, I’m so proud of my little brother, but I think he
was sick of me telling him to soak up every moment. That nothing gets better
than the sweet late spring days at PSU. That he should sleep in, be lazy, go to
the bar at 2 p.m. and stay up late eating Grillers (even though I think the
Health Dept. finally shut it down). And all of that is true, but in reality, my
baby brother reminded me that life after college has some perks too. You’re
financially independent (or at least mostly independent). You can go on
vacations on your own schedule (as long as you have vacation days). You start
becoming your real self, instead of your college self (who was probably more
wrapped up in grades and tests and social life than discovering who you are as
an adult). Post-college is when you really start charting your own life, making
your own decisions and building your life. And all of these are wonderful
things.
So I’m proud of my brother for bravely looking forward to
the next phase of life and reminding me of how important and crucial and
life-changing every season of our lives can be. Whether we’re in a place of
happiness or struggle or grief or indifference, we’re growing, changing and
becoming more of our true selves. And we can’t hate that. In fact, we need to
love and embrace where we are at this very moment, no matter how tiny or
seemingly insignificant. We’ve been given this lovely moment to stand and love
and share.
I’m the biggest offender of forgetting this important
philosophy. But I’m trying to be better. Let’s hope we can take on these
moments as they come and pray for peace and grace in the pursuit.
To taking in each tiny moment,
Lia
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