This is for everyone, including me.

Since I’m not smart enough to get the opportunity to speak at graduation, I’m going to do it here. Hey, it’s my column, I’ll do what I want with it.

While most of my columns offer advice on relationships, sex, and proper costumes for holidays, I can be deeper than that. Hard to believe, I know.

In 5 days I’ll be graduating from this campus that I have called home for the past 5 years. And throughout these 5 years and a few different majors (my Dad calls me the Van Wilder of Pitt-Greensburg), I’ve learned a lot.

The only advice I can offer that applies to every college student everywhere is simple: Don’t take any of it for granted.

When we graduate high school, most times, we aren’t that confused about where we’re going. Sure, the options for college are vast, but in general, you’re going to college. That’s that.

Graduating college is way different. Way. Different. I have never not known what I was going to do with myself until now. It’s absolutely terrifying. It’s exciting. It’s sad. It’s tremendously happy. I’ve climbed my way up in so many ways and finally became somebody, and created a life here, and now I have to do it all over again. I never thought about that until now, and it’s scary. I feel 18 all over again. I feel younger and more scared than I did when I first got here. I don’t know what’s coming next, or what I’m going to do.

But what I do know is that I made the most of my time in college. I did what I wanted, I made mistakes, I made amazing friendships. I was true to myself even when it meant sacrificing other things. I might not have made the ideal choices from an outsider’s perspective, but I lived it. I really did.

If I could go back in time to the beginning of my freshman year, the only thing I would have done differently would be to study more. Somehow I’ve made it here…I think a lot of BS-ing on my part and good grace from kind professors has helped as well.

So yeah, put your classes first. Take the time to learn all that you can, do the work, you’re paying for it. But don’t let it rule your life.

I’ve seen how a college student who does nothing but study is…they don’t seem to truly experience everything else that college has to offer.

Again I’ll say - class first. Absolutely. Everything else comes in a close second though.

Get involved…there are so many different clubs on campus, and at least one of them is perfect for you. It’s the perfect way to express your interests and beliefs and meet others with the same goals. So many people seem to want to spend more time and energy on hating everything about Pitt-Greensburg. I assume that goes on everywhere, but I’ve seen the efforts of hate numerous times each year, and it never succeeds. You’re in college, you’re intelligent. Get creative…believe me an effort to make a positive impact goes a lot further than one full of bitterness.

Don’t be afraid to get a little crazy (Granted, I wouldn’t encourage following that many of my footsteps, but hey, I’ve still maintained a position as a student leader and people can always count on me to be honest…if you’re gonna act crazy you need to own it). The mornings where you wake up confused make for the best stories down the road, most of the time at least. There will be times where you’ll be out all night, and making decisions you never thought you would. There will be times where you know you should say no but you’re going to say yes anyway. Say yes. It feels good.

As much as I have hated sitting through some of my classes, dealing with seeing people who may have seen me the previous evening engaging in some scandalous behavior, pulling all-nighters during finals week, the fighting and tension that is inevitable among friends who love each other and all of the terrible boys I’ve wasted my time on, I would never trade the experience for the world.

High school is a time where we’re stuck because it’s all we know, college is a time where we can be who we want, be with who we want, and do what we want.

I’m not going to grad school…after 5 years of school I can’t do it. Maybe I’ll go back later after I get settled a little and decide what I really want to do, but I’m burnt out on class for now. But I doubt grad school is half as much fun as undergrad is. That’s what I’m saying.

I remember moving to Greensburg on freshman move in day 5 long years ago. I didn’t know a single person in this city. All I knew was that I needed to get out of my hometown and start fresh. College gives us that opportunity, to be who we truly are with no restraints. And I, like many other college students I know, are much happier with the freedom to be who we really are.

You’re never going to get this time back. Up until last week it felt like my college career had taken forever. Today I can’t find where the time went. All I have are the memories…late nights with friends, things I wish maybe I hadn’t done at parties, tests I passed somehow, trying to walk that fine line between professional and unprofessional, losses, victories, new friends, old friends, lost friends, fights that didn’t mean anything in the end, heartache, love, lust, anger, happiness, joy, anguish, shock, amazement.

I don’t care what kind of person you think you are or aren’t. Try new things when you have the chance. Do things you swore you never would. Don’t regret anything, look at it as an experience, or a lesson learned. Stay open minded, be genuine, compassionate, honest, and kind. Stand up for what you believe in without shoving it down someone’s throat. Speak your mind without being cruel. Don’t ever, ever, judge someone unless you’re ready to be judged…and trust me, you’re not. Try to impact others as much as they impact you. That’s the kind of person you should try to be. If people still talk - and they will - that means you’re doing something right.

I hope whoever takes the responsibility of offering advice to the campus in the future does an even better job than me. I hope you find success, and more importantly happiness, in whatever you do and whatever path you take in life. Whether or not you’re graduating, good luck, truly.

Thanks to those of you who have listened to my advice. And more importantly, thanks to whoever thought it was a good idea to let me offer advice…yikes. Sorry this was so long. I have a lot of feelings, haha.

Stay Gold, Loves
Kristi xoxo

p.s. to everyone who’s had a part in making me “me,” thanks. I love you more than I could ever say, and more than you’ll ever truly know. <3