When I first got to UNCW I made a bucket list of things that I wanted to do before I graduated. The list had 32 items that I thought would round out my entire college experience: study abroad, join a club, take a surf lesson, etc. While I never learned how to surf, I have very few regrets about my time as a seahawk.
I guess you could everything started when I joined TealTV, UNCW’s student-led production network. Here, I discovered a passion for marketing, made life-long friends, and gained marketplace and leadership experience. From here, I decided that communication studies was the only major that was right for me. I chose classes that not only interested me, but challenged me. I networked with my peers and professors. I learned how to be confident in the classroom. I learned when to step up, and more importantly when to say “NO” and take time for myself.
I worked really hard throughout my college experience. Like, I worked my ass off. I was the president of two student organizations, I worked part-time, and somehow still managed to re-watch the entire series of The Office nine times. Impressive, right?
I’ve always had a plan A, B, and C. But sometimes you find out that your plans aren’t the paths that you need to be on, or even necessarily want to be on. If you had asked me two months ago what I wanted to do after graduation, my answer would have been “find a job and move into my own place.” Graduate school was never the plan, until I went to a graduate school panel. My future did a complete 180, and after one week I was writing my statement of purpose, studying for the MAT, and pestering professors for recommendation letters.
You never know where life will take you. I certainly never planned to apply to graduate school, have to move back home for the summer, or be a camp counselor again. Hey, life happens. Am I right?
With 19 days left until I walk across the stage, I only completed half of the items on my bucket list. But, I don’t regret anything and I am so excited to see where the next few days, weeks, months have in store for me. Thank you UNCW for being my home for seven semesters and for changing me into the woman I am today.
“‘I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” – Andy Bernard, The Office
Kyndall DySard, Class of 2017
IMC Hawks Blog 
I can really relate to this post. I am graduating in December and recently I have been doing a lot of reflecting on my college experience. When I graduated high school, I had all of these ideas of what college would be like and all of these plans of what I wanted to do while in college. But once I actually entered college, my plans changed. I found out that some of the things I was initially interested in weren’t the right fit for me and some things I thought I wouldn’t like, I actually did. Looking back, I have a few regrets, but I am proud of my accomplishments and have had a positive college experience.
I love the bucket list idea I totally wish I would of thought of that; but by the time I got to UNCW I only had one year to cram everything in in order to graduate in December, and with tons of projects, papers, and a part time job I had a lack of time to participate in many extra-curricular activities. I try to volunteer and stay involved in as many school events as I can but now with an added internship in the fall my schedule is going to be pretty tight! I loved reading your post because I too, because of UNCW, have decided to attend grad school something I have never pictured before. UNCW has sparked a passion for education my last University did not, I’ve never been one to kill myself over a grade but now I find myself getting irritated over receiving a B. The professors and the department have definitely helped me to be a better person and a better student and I couldn’t be more grateful!
This is such a great post, because being a junior going into my senior year, I need to make the best of this amazing experience I am in currently. I feel like it was just yesterday, that I graduated high school, and felt so much joy. Although I cannot wait to graduate, this post reminded me to slow down and enjoy the experience of it all. Ride the wave, and feel it all. Congratulations on graduating!!!
I really enjoyed this post! I think it is extremely relatable to pretty much everyone in college. We all have these plans and ideas about what life is supposed to be like in our heads, but it never works out that way. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. I am a huge believer in fate and that everything happens for a reason. Although sometimes, sh*t happens, it does so that better things can occur in the future.
I like this post a lot because it directly relates to me right now. I am trying my hardest as a Junior in college to make every right decision for my future, and to make the most of the experience I am having. Sometimes it’s frustrating, but it’s true that 9 times out of 10, things will not go as planned anyways, and that brings me relief.