Grad is fastly approaching us. Our lives, our dreams, all reliant on the performance outputted onto little strips of paper. Our lives are determined based upon our ability to mark the correct response. We are tested.
Yet we do not have to truly face the worst pain to come: separation anxiety. As exams end, sometimes friendships can too. With the ability of choice comes the factors of importance. It can sometimes not be what we want in life, but rather what we are willing to sacrifice to get there. I am right in the middle of it myself.
One would normally expect a male like myself to be plotting his liquor demise, or social embarrassment. This is known as the infamous AFTER GRAD. However, it seems to be the least of my concerns. What is my concern? It's an absolutely normal reaction that I've entitled "The Migration Anxiety". It's basically getting really upset realizing that now everybody goes their own ways.
Many people I know and have shared practically my entire time here in Calgary with are travelling far away for prospects of their dream careers. Not originating here in Calgary, I have tied very close bonds with these people.
I recall the first time I moved from Victoria to Calgary. I was only 10 or so at the time, but when my parents said we were moving I was all excited, thinking it was a vacation or something. However, in the last 3 days or so of living there, I actually realized I was going away and most likely never coming back.
For those of you that have had to move from a place you've been for a long time, you realize how devistating it can be. Now take that feeling, and evolve it with some nuclear waste or something. It gets a whole lot uglier.
Now, instead of being forced one way or another, you have a choice. Stay where you are, or go with your friend. Either way, you lose something. If you stay, you lose the friend. If you leave, you lose the family, or perhaps other friends. Yes, it can be absolutely devistating.
Now, let's say you're REALLY close to this friend. No, I don't mean having sex, although that would easily complicate things more. Basically, I really like her. We've been close friends for nearly 3 years and I swear life would be so weird without her. She's moving to Burnaby for college, I'm staying here in Calgary.
There's always that funny little bell in my head that rings "Hey, college babes!". Comedic, yet unrealistic. I tend to find it difficult picturing these scenarios that obviously wouldn't play out in my favor. Thanks dad for the lovely idea but, I don't think so.
I do believe I'm no longer the same person I once was. I used to simply date anybody that liked me, never worked out in my favor. However, I have people that like me right now and I'm not going for it? Why not? To be honest, I really care that much about Bre. Once you've gotten to know somebody and you really like them, the bond is beyond relationship. And after a track record like mine, how can you ever tell somebody this is how you seriously feel? I would really like to tell her I love her in a true, romantic sense, but I'll give you a mini rant on why I don't.
We live in a society where the word LOVE has become an overrated term. Love does not include cheating, divorces, and all those other relationship crushers. Teenagers tend to believe they're in love, but if it all breaks off they take their word back. (For the record, I once did love, but I was badly hurt due to the break-up and I do still love her just not in the same way and nearly as strongly). Love is overrated.
Welcome to the world that is Pre-Grad Panic.