This morning, I woke up at 4:30 to drop my family off at the airport. I didn’t get much sleep last night - I wasn’t really tired until 11, and then I stayed up for another hour when the Kawhi/PG news broke. It was a 45 minute drive to the airport and too early for anyone to feel like talking much. Spent some time hugging everyone and saying goodbye, and that was it. Now I’m on my own.

I’m feeling pretty empty right now. I feel like this happens every time I say goodbye. Just a feeling of emptiness. Wishing that old times could last forever. Regretting not making more out of that time.

Wrapping up college was basically the same. I knew going into my last semester that this was it. My last 4 months living in a dream. I was content knowing I made the most out of it, and I was more or less mentally prepared to move on. After the degree ceremony in Cameron, we all got together and took our final pictures together. Gordon came over, gave me a hug, and said something along the lines of “Goodbye forever, son.” And I just broke down crying. I guess I wasn’t actually prepared for the reality that it was all over today. The next day, I drove home with my (actual) dad, all my emotions replaced with a numb emptiness.

I guess I’m supposed to say something meaningful rather than just relive my memories. In the end, a degree doesn’t really mean anything. It’s just an (expensive) piece of paper. The real treasure was the friends I made along the way (but unironically). There ya go.

I really do think college was and will be the best time of my life. There was freedom to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Classes were never too hard, and all my friends lived within 10 minutes of me. I had everything I needed, and almost everything I wanted. I really will miss college. But I guess there’s only so much use in reminiscing. And hey - it’s not like the future’s a bleak, miserable existence. A lot of my friends are living in the area, and I’m working at an exciting company where I get to learn from the best. I’m living in the middle of restaurant heaven and in close proximity to some beautiful national parks. And there’s no more tests, no more applications, no more interviews.

To be honest, it doesn’t truly feel like I graduated. The last few summers started the same way, just with internships rather than a full-time job. Nonetheless, I’m slowly waking up from 4 years living in a dream. But that’s fine. The real world’s cool too.