Thankful

Grateful. Thankful. Together. Alone. Complete. Incomplete. Forgotten.

Those are some of the things that come to mind as we commence classes within the next week. Multiple things have happen to me this week, which made me feel grateful, thankful, together, alone, complete, incomplete and forgotten.

Monday, I was grateful. My neighbor and classmate knocked on my door to give me fresh produce from her and her family. I was humbled to be given such treasures as fresh broccoli, apples and oranges.

I worked up some delicious chicken thighs in the pressure cooker and tossed in some of that fresh broccoli (saving the rest for cheddar broccoli soup). Accompanied by homemade crab ragoon (my favorite). Cooking is something that has kept me grateful during isolation.

Tuesday, I was thankful. Judi the President/CEO of the Kearney Area Community Foundation offered me a marketing position after I interned for her for my entire college education (five years).

P.S. As you can probably tell, digital art is my hobby and I’ve been doing crazy things with it! Check out some of the gifs I’ve made, here!

Wednesday, I was together. My group of five classmates and I finalized our final project for our senior level independent study. We practiced together and did great. I’m so proud of my team and how far we’ve come throughout the years. Our final presentation is on Friday via Zoom.

Some of the elements we worked on were a website, along side with numerous print and media materials for a restaurant located in Callaway, NE. It’s called Shotgun Annies Saloon and Bar. Check out our content, here!

But it’s not all sunshine and custom typography skills (rainbows).

Alone. That’s what seniors are feeling as we complete our education. We feel incomplete because of the lack of closure. During these times of uncertainty, there is little to know on how this will affect our seniors.

Alone. Students are going to be emailed a diploma and tossed out into a pandemic world, expected to achieve. With this, there is a lack of transition between the college student life and the expected adult life. When do we make it and how do we start to develop ourselves professionally?

Forgotten: by our own government. As first generation graduates, raised by single mothers who claim them on their taxes; it is we who didn’t receive a stimulus check, when we needed it the most.

But for now, I will keep my head high, by accepting my achievements and being grateful for opportunities presented to me. As time continues to pass and the last week of my college education comes to a close, there is something I’ll never forget.

And that’s how thankful I am for how it all turned out, even if finishing during a pandemic cut things off abruptly with many questions in the air.

This is the end, but it is just the beginning.