By Katie Skogen

I’m not a very emotional person. While most of my girl friends cry at things like The Notebook, or boys or cute gestures, I find myself dry-eyed. I dated a guy for almost five years and when we broke up, the only person I talked to about it for a long time was my mom for a total of about ten minutes. I haven’t had any traumatic event that cuts me off from my emotions. I just don’t have as many as most people.

But I’m feeling very emotional now.

My life as a student is coming to an end. I will no longer stay up all night because my classes are in the afternoon. I can no longer go out drinking downtown on a Tuesday night and say it’s OK because I’m just being a college kid. I will no longer be surrounded by all of my closest friends all the time on my tiny, adorable campus.

But there is a positive side.

My life as a young adult is about to begin. I will no longer have homework. Teachers will no longer judge my work on a one to 100 scale. I will no longer have to spend all night working on homework and papers that I honestly am not interested in.

I cannot express in words how grateful I am to have gone to Georgia College. Despite my complaints over the past three and half years, I wouldn’t want to have spent my college career anywhere else. To be completely honest, the experience of college may possibly outweigh the education I have received. Of course I am gracious for the knowledge I have obtained, but the times and friends I have made are priceless.

There is a bond that college students have that cannot be created in any other walk of life. You don’t know a friend until you have stayed up all night with them in the library to the point of being delirious in your 8 a.m. class. You cannot replace the memories made on a Thursday night in downtown Milledgeville. These are things that I will have forever and no one can take them away from me.

I will miss my college campus. I will miss my college friends. I will miss my college life.

But I’m ready to move on.

I’m ready to work, to travel, and to discover new things in this giant world. I find myself so torn among a whirlwind of emotions as my time is ending here at Georgia College. My chapter as a student is coming to close, and my chapter as an adult is beginning so soon.

So here I am, being all emotional about college ending. And I wanted to say thank you.

Thank you to all of my friends for your friendships. Thank you to my teachers for the knowledge you have given me. Thank you to everyone who broke me down and built me up these past few years. College has given me a better understanding of who I am, and I am confident in my ability to take on the world.

Goodbye Georgia College, I will miss you dearly.

Katie Skogen