For some soon-to-be graduates, our last year of college was characterized by an ongoing battle with that gruesome epidemic called senioritis. For some, senioritis might have manifested itself in bouts of lack of productivity. Others might still be suffering from symptoms of denial. As for me, my senioritis swelled into a full-fledged inner battle. My adversary? A seemingly insurmountable question mark known as “My Future.”  Flanked by its cronies “Where,” “What,” “When” and that punk named “How,” My Future never seemed to leave me alone, bullying me into dealing with it wherever I went. 

Anyone else that has been harassed by their future knows how hard it is to hide from it. You can’t escape this gang of life’s big questions when you are a senior. Your parents are sending constant reminders that you will be on your own in the real world soon, which is almost as sweet as every person who asks, “So what are you going to do when you graduate?” 

No matter how many times you Google “What should I do with my life?” (29) and tweet that you are “#overit” (7), or how many pitchers you down at Hilligan’s (no comment), you can find those big life questions brooding around the corner. As much as I would like to take that diploma I get on May 12 and fight down those questions with solid answers, I realize that might not be the case. 

Not everyone has it all mapped out when they switch that tassel, and I am definitely going to be one of those people. But I think I finally figured out that the way to outwit my uncertain future is to accept it. I am okay with not knowing, because what can we really be certain about in life anyway? 

 I am about to walk across that stage and into the real world, with no real direction other than, “I just want to help people.” My experiences with service throughout my time here at WKU have shown me how rewarding it is to work for something greater than yourself. 

The passion that I have for helping others will lead me on in this life, and I know that my future will fall into place ahead of me. Too often the questions paralyze us, and we doubt whether we can succeed or make a difference. If I have learned one thing in college, it is that you have to go for it and just do it. We make progress by putting one foot in front of the other, and as long as we keep moving and let our passions guide us, we will get to where we need to go. 

Some of us will leave that stage on graduation day and know exactly where we are going. Others of us will wander. But like my favorite quote says, “Not all who wander are lost.”