Every year around this time, seniors at every institution begin to anticipate walking across the stage and receive their degree. While this is a pretty collective sentiment, my eagerness to graduate is at an all-time high. Graduation cannot come fast enough for me and I have been in college for long enough. It is time to make a move towards the next stage of my life. I know that it is only February and I have more than two months left, but I would leave tomorrow if I could.  It is not that I don’t like A&T anymore, or that I have had a bad experience while I have been here.  I just feel like there is a certain maturity level that I have received and I am ready to do something new. I have been in North Carolina all my life, so that probably has something to do with it. I am ready for a drastic change of scenery and cannot wait until May 8th to do it.  When I say that I am ready to graduate and move on with my life, some people think that I am crazy.  Some say not to rush it and that college is the best time of your life, and although that might be the case, it comes a time when it is time to just MOVE ON.  That time is NOW for me, because I think that I have given North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University everything that I can give it, and Lord knows that it has probably taken even more.  I am just ready to be a grown up and as crazy as it may seem, I am completely over college. Although there are several things that I will miss about Aggieland, I can honestly say that I am ready to be on my own and begin my career and do all of the things that I have been dreaming about and working towards. First of all, I am ready to get a job and begin my career in journalism. I can honestly say that I am ready to handle responsibilities that come with adulthood. There is a certain culture at A&T and I am sure it is at every other HBCU that keeps the stereotypes of our institution going. Over the past four years, I have done or at least attempted to do everything that is expected from a student who wants to have a fulfilling college experience. I have been a student-athlete, been to parties, been on the dean’s list, participated in Homecoming activities, ran for an SGA office, and worked on campus, among other things.  I have met a lot of people and been able to do a lot of things.  There are some things that I wish I could have done but I will take that as a grain of salt as I move on with my life. I have had the best college experience possible and I would not change anything about it as I reflect. Of course, some things could have gone a little better for me, but I am now ready to apply all of the skills and knowledge to another purpose.  Walking across that stage is not just the end of one chapter of my life, but it is also the beginning of a new one. I cannot wait for it to start so that I can achieve even greater things and represent A&T as an alumnus. 

• laporsha lowry