In some moments, the excitement to graduate is overwhelming. The next moment I'm in tears about leaving my home for the past four years. Asking me if I'm excited for graduation is a dangerous task because who knows which emotion is going through my head at the time.
People think I'm crazy if I say I'm not entirely excited about graduation. "But you're going to POLAND!" They remind me. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten I'm leaving the country for a year.
Being abroad adds an entirely different dimension to this graduation thing. "Normal" graduates can come back and visit at least once or twice. Their time zones are usually within an hour of here. Cell phones and texting work, and don't cost an arm and a leg.
Having studied abroad for five months already, I think I have a pretty good grasp of what I'm in for. Yes, Poland is amazing and I'm INCREDIBLY excited. But it's also one of the most difficult experiences some days because when I'm over there, life goes on here. I missed weddings, funerals, graduation parties, recitals.
The hardest week over in Poland started the day after Palm Sunday when my mom called me in tears because her big brother had very unexpectedly passed away. There really was no question if I was going to fly home or not; it was too expensive. I had to deal with his death without my family and with friends I had known merely two months. It was incredibly difficult.
Looking forward to the next year, I know I'm going to miss some incredible times with my family, who I love dearly. I won't be able to visit my friends, who have become part of my family. Yes, there's Skype, but the six hour time difference means I'm eating dinner during their lunch breaks. The time difference makes planning conversations a lot harder than you would think. Unfortunately, I'm going to miss one of my best friends, more like a brother after four years, get married to another really awesome friend.
There's no question whether I'm going to Poland, but some days, I can afford to be not excited about it. The stress of living in a different country is unmatched in the U.S. because, like I said in my CM-Life article, even not having an umbrella on a rainy day can throw you off big time if you don't know the word in Polish.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
You Still Got Me!
This video highlights some of the most fun moments and the most lasting friendships I've made in college over the last four years.
The original video can be found here: A better quality version!
The songs come from Jump 5's final album.
From here, looking back, I still can't believe where we've been, what we did, what we saw you and me. And now that we've come to the end of our road, can't believe around this bend our ride has to end. But you don't have to worry cause you know, whatever you see.
You still got me through the good, bad, or better. You got me forever. You still got me. And where ever you go, just know you'll never be there alone.
So for me when it hurts and life leaves its mark, it helps me to know that you're never that far. Just a call to a friend and you're here to the end. The memories won't fade so you're with me always. So just know, life can bring what it wants. You always got me.
You still got me through the good, bad or better. You got me forever. You still got me. And where ever you go, just know you'll never be there alone.
We could be near or far, not passed the lonely star. Don't matter, no it don't. Across any sea, you're still with memories.
The original video can be found here: A better quality version!
The songs come from Jump 5's final album.
From here, looking back, I still can't believe where we've been, what we did, what we saw you and me. And now that we've come to the end of our road, can't believe around this bend our ride has to end. But you don't have to worry cause you know, whatever you see.
You still got me through the good, bad, or better. You got me forever. You still got me. And where ever you go, just know you'll never be there alone.
So for me when it hurts and life leaves its mark, it helps me to know that you're never that far. Just a call to a friend and you're here to the end. The memories won't fade so you're with me always. So just know, life can bring what it wants. You always got me.
You still got me through the good, bad or better. You got me forever. You still got me. And where ever you go, just know you'll never be there alone.
We could be near or far, not passed the lonely star. Don't matter, no it don't. Across any sea, you're still with memories.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
There's Always Time for New Friends
Graduation is officially one week away! I have been trying my hardest to see all of my friends from the last four years. On top of all my old friends, I've been blessed to make so many new
friends this semester, and even in the past few weeks.
In life, I think we might be quick to dismiss creating new friendships when a big change is right around the corner. There are so many things that I would have missed out if I had ignored some of the new people in my life.
The past week has been filled with squeezing in appearances at parties for twenty or thirty minutes and REALLY late nights. Luckily, my Saudi Arabian friends stay up till the wee hours of the morning, which is why Thursday night I could be found dancing around one of their apartments at 4:30 am.
So what would I have missed if I hadn't been open to new relationships? Well, I've made friends from around the world this year! Experiencing the Muslim culture through my (most Saudi Arabian) Arabic friends has been awesome. Last week, they treated me to kabsa and zakee...traditional home cooked meals. I've learned so much about a culture that Americans generally don't learn much about. While my future plans lay in Poland, the learning of a different culture is never wasted time.
My favorite class this semester, PSC 398b only has about eight students. We spend our entire class period discussing ancient philosophy...Aristotle, Plato, Socrates. Since it's so small, the class has become pretty close and I've made two pretty good friends out of it. One, is a little older than me with a ton more wisdom than I have. Thankfully, he's willing to offer advice in the midst of pre-graduation freakouts. The other goes out to the softball fields and yells at me for trying to pitch like I did in high school. To be honest, he's probably right! They're both incredibly intelligent people who aren't afraid to argue with me about politics and philosophy, something I have thoroughly enjoyed and value greatly!
Thankfully, God has placed a ton of wonderful friends in my life. There are people at CMU that will forever hold a place in my heart. I've added so many people to my "family". Brothers and sisters that aren't blood related, but people who will always be there for me. I'm just happy that I've been able to continue to add to my friendships. There's no such thing as too many friends!
In life, I think we might be quick to dismiss creating new friendships when a big change is right around the corner. There are so many things that I would have missed out if I had ignored some of the new people in my life.
The past week has been filled with squeezing in appearances at parties for twenty or thirty minutes and REALLY late nights. Luckily, my Saudi Arabian friends stay up till the wee hours of the morning, which is why Thursday night I could be found dancing around one of their apartments at 4:30 am.
So what would I have missed if I hadn't been open to new relationships? Well, I've made friends from around the world this year! Experiencing the Muslim culture through my (most Saudi Arabian) Arabic friends has been awesome. Last week, they treated me to kabsa and zakee...traditional home cooked meals. I've learned so much about a culture that Americans generally don't learn much about. While my future plans lay in Poland, the learning of a different culture is never wasted time.
My favorite class this semester, PSC 398b only has about eight students. We spend our entire class period discussing ancient philosophy...Aristotle, Plato, Socrates. Since it's so small, the class has become pretty close and I've made two pretty good friends out of it. One, is a little older than me with a ton more wisdom than I have. Thankfully, he's willing to offer advice in the midst of pre-graduation freakouts. The other goes out to the softball fields and yells at me for trying to pitch like I did in high school. To be honest, he's probably right! They're both incredibly intelligent people who aren't afraid to argue with me about politics and philosophy, something I have thoroughly enjoyed and value greatly!
Thankfully, God has placed a ton of wonderful friends in my life. There are people at CMU that will forever hold a place in my heart. I've added so many people to my "family". Brothers and sisters that aren't blood related, but people who will always be there for me. I'm just happy that I've been able to continue to add to my friendships. There's no such thing as too many friends!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Final Finals!
As I'm staring down the last week of my undergraduate career, so many people have asked that I continue to keep them updates on my experiences post-graduation...especially in Poland next year. I decided to start blogging on a semi-regular basis to give them, and whoever else, a small glimpse into the life of Stephanie Jaczkowski. It'll be a mix of my experiences in DC, Poland, graduate school...but also a deal of insight into the many things that have shaped me to this point.
One week from tomorrow I graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Integrative Public Relations from one of the best universities in Michigan. It's the best, not based off of US News rankings, but because I've made it the best experience for me.
A question I keep getting asked is if I have finals. YES! Seniors are normal students (a bit more lazy perhaps), but we don't get a free ride through finals week unfortunately. I have three big exams next week and will probably have to slow down the farewell parties and goodbyes a little bit to start studying for them pretty soon.
In the mean time, I have squeezed in more hugs, high fives, and laughs with some of my closest friends in the past few days. The end of undergrad doesn't mean the end of these friendships. I have, thankfully, made life-long friends in the process of my education.
One week from tomorrow I graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Integrative Public Relations from one of the best universities in Michigan. It's the best, not based off of US News rankings, but because I've made it the best experience for me.
A question I keep getting asked is if I have finals. YES! Seniors are normal students (a bit more lazy perhaps), but we don't get a free ride through finals week unfortunately. I have three big exams next week and will probably have to slow down the farewell parties and goodbyes a little bit to start studying for them pretty soon.
In the mean time, I have squeezed in more hugs, high fives, and laughs with some of my closest friends in the past few days. The end of undergrad doesn't mean the end of these friendships. I have, thankfully, made life-long friends in the process of my education.
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