Cuz every little thing, is gunna be alright

So in the past week, I've gone full circle. Without realizing it, I've gained more from this trip than I had ever intended.

As I lie here, getting ready to go to sleep, I realized that I'm ready. Graduation is upon me, and now that I've been here, and did this trip, I know that I don't have to worry, because as Bob Marley would say, 'every little thing's gunna be alright.'

I started my journey in Philly, where I visited my sister and got relive freshman year. I got to sleep in a dorm again and to enjoy the lifestyle of sharing bathrooms and dealing with kids running up and down the halls at all hours. The issues Shannon dealt with, like picking housing or deciding what to major in, are things of the past for me, but I found it wonderful to relive those moments with Shannon as she makes her decisions. I also got to spend quality time with my sister, and I was so proud to see her growing up. I'm excited to see her grow over the next three years as she experiences college.

My second stop brought me to a city I want to live in one day. I got to see my friend Amanda, who is doing so well on her own after graduating from RWU, and it reassurred me that life after college isn'ty scary, but instead exciting. I learned a lot about how to get a job here. The biggest piece of advice: be sure you know someone in the field. By having an 'in,' you are more likely to get a job there. This is exciting, because I never realized that me living in DC could be a real possibility. I knew already that I loved it here, but now I know that one day I have to live here, and when is a better time than now?

Seeing Amanda living in DC also made me realize how fun life after college can be. You have a steady job, you can get paid, rent an apartment, and still be able to have fun. There's a lot of young people here, and I could see myself being very happy.

My final stop brings me outside DC to my friend Kate's house. She graduated from UMass, and now works in National Geographic. Hearing her story, and how she landed a job, reassurred me again that everything will be fine. Not only this, but she is at a point where she could really start making a name for herself here. She explained that there are jobs out in the journalism world, and that I can get one. And she can help.

So this trip has brought me a sense of calm. I'm ready to graduate, hell, I'm excited to graduate. If these women can do it, then so can I. Life has only just begun, and it is worth it.