What I have learned

In a three short months my carrer as an undergraduate will be over. Its been a long time folks. I have been going to school for six years. I went to art school for a short time, went part time for a year or so, then for the last four years I have been going full time. It's been a long ride and it is really strange thinking about how it is almost over.

I also recently turned 25 years old which I feel is a major turning point. I'm no longer in my early twenties and soon I will be in my late twenties. The things I have learned, both in the classroom and out, have made me this person that I am today. Like other's in my age range the time for figuring out who we are or what we are supposed to do is over. We are the people we are and at this point there is no turning back. It's time to move forward and stop wondering what there is to do and just do it. 

We may work different jobs than we envisioned at the beginning of our college carrer. Move places we never imagined being. Meet people we previously would not have found interesting. Doing things we never thought possible. Like it or not we are who we are, and that's it, it's time to embrace the people that we have become. 

There are some few things that I have learned that have shaped the way I do things, approach certain situations and solve various problems. 

1. Always do your background research - from doing your homework, to approaching an interview and planing your next trip. Nothing is as easy as you think and not matter how prepared you are there will be barriers that need to be broken down. Knowing what theres barriers are and where they will be can make them easier to overcome. 
2. Talk to everyone - Talk to that crazy old guy, the person across from you at the restaurant, anyone you ever meet in an elevator, someone sitting alone at the bar, the girl with blue hair, the guy in the really nice suit. Not forever but give people a short period to figure out if you like them or not. You may find out they are way more interesting than you first thought. 
3. Hang around places where you'll find people that interest you - be it a bar, a coffee shop or a record store figure out where the people you want to talk to are and go there so much that everyone knows you by name. Sooner or later your going to be friends with a handfull of these people. Go back to step two. 
4. Don't worry about it so much - In the end whatever is bothering you will not matter in three weeks. If there is something you can do about it, make that happen. If not, move on. 
5. Never be afraid to go out and do things alone - Some of my greatest adventures have been solo. Even when I go on vacation with friends at some point or another I break off from the group and do my own thing. Steps two and three are essental. 
6. Take risks - Anyone who doesn't is boring as hell. Over-thinking is quite possibly the worst thing you can do to yourself. Sometimes, good or bad, you need to just let it happen. I promise it might not always be the best experience but it sure will be an interesting one.