Thoughts  On  Life  As  A  Soon–To-­‐Be  College  Graduate  

Jennifer  Wells    

 2  

Table  of  Contents  

POST-­‐SECONDARY  LIFE  IN  5  OF  COURSE  COLLEGE  KIDS  PLAY  VIDEO  GAMES  I  FORGOT    BLISS  FROM  A  FREEZER  BOX  AUTUMN  SPRINGS  SELF  CONTROL  JANUARY  2012,  FRESHMAN  YEAR  FROM  CHOCOLATE  MILK  TO  BLACK  COFFEE  RANT  ABOUT  WORK  DEAR  NICOTINE  RIESLING    NICE,  FRANCE  LEARNING  CURVE  WHERE  DID  THE  TIME  GO?  GRADUATION  HAPPINGS    PICTURE  TIME  AT  GRADUATION  FINAL  DESTINATION  UNKNOWN      

3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  

  3  

Post-Secondary Life in Five One year of overcrowded-dorm-style-living Two serious, wrong-for-you-boyfriends Three terrible why-did-we-become-roommates-scenarios Four years of tuition-paid-for-with-scholarships Five new how-did-I-ever-live-without-you-best friends

 4  

Of Course College Kids Play Video Games As I fall off the pixilated cliff All I can think is I’m so PISSED! The controller flies from my sweaty hands and Lands on the floor where it belongs I’m tired of pretending That I know exactly what I’m doing When I don’t. I realize as I pick up the controller I’m only signing up for another loss. Still, I hold the hope I’ll make it around And when I don’t, And when I fall again, This time the controller smashes against the wall. I see the innards fall Out of the controller Like the intestines of a pig

  5  

I Forgot To do my geography homework for Class Tomorrow. This alters the rest of the plans for My Evening. Funny how forgetting things can actually Change the course of Your Life.

 6  

Bliss from a Freezer Box

Icy crystals cover the white twigs lying beneath the perfectly round glistening pepperonis. Tough plastic

squeals as it tears to release cool vapor into the preheated air.

The crystals disappear The twigs mesh

Together to form a uniform blanket

Of blissful Delight

  7  

Autumn Springs

She rolls through the breeze, Pale and frail

elevated, floating Above us—untouchable She radiates a warmth

that never seems to warm, fond of the occasional

Unpredictable storm

 8  

 

Self Control

Looking at the steaming

plate in front of me,

My stomach rumbles, crying

for more than just the few

small, precisely portioned bites

of broccoli

I will allow it to consume

With its nasty stomach acid

attacking

anything that threatens to enter

my palms sweat thinking about

just how violently my stomach

would attack the piece of

protein-rich, medium-cooked steak

staring from the steaming

plate in front of me.

  9  

January 2012, Freshman Year Its been a few years since that fateful day. We met through a mutual friend. I hardly remember because I thought that would be the end, I would never see you again. You remember it perfectly though, Apples to apples—we were playing—you say.

 10  

From Chocolate Milk to Black Coffee Someone reading to you As you sit on their lap Maybe a mother or father Grandma or aunt The letters appeared as Ugly obstructions to The bright, colorful pictures Of furry animals living on a farm You’re uncomfortable so your Caretaker readjusts you To make you comfortable When that doesn’t work They grab the grippy sippy-cup Filled with the greatest joy Of your childhood adventure Chocolate Milk Black coffee steams As you sit down at the desk Overhearing the conversations Of  coworkers,  bosses  and  clients  too  You’re unhappy and you remember Those colorful, promising pictures Of that farm in that book From your childhood Right when you think You’ve mustered up the courage To walk out and pursue a new life You grab that steaming cup Filled with all the motivation You need to make it through The day and the next one To maintain your adult survival

  11  

Rant About Work Yesterday I quit my job of three years, the only job I have held during my undergrad career. I served burgers and waffle fries to people far too gluttonous to realize their demands for mayonnaise were downright rude. I wanted to say, “I’m a human, too!” What makes these fools think they are worthy of treating another human being with such disrespect? A man who shakes his glass, empty and jingling with ice, certainly won’t get his drink filled any quicker because I now know this guy will never be a good tipper. *One week after writing this poem, I quit my job

 12  

Dear Nicotine Do you have any clue how upset

I am that a mutual friend introduced you to me At the naive age Of sixteen? I know you don’t care. I know why you don’t care. You’ve had me for awhile now. But I’m ready to let go. Please let me go, move on. Leave my lungs with no harm. The third time try should be the charm.

  13  

Riesling Three of my four years of Actually being a college undergrad I shared with my little fur bag Riesling. He is a Pomeranian mixed with a Poodle And He’s definitely got a tail shaped like a doodle. He enjoys walking around the block And chewing on my socks. He ran away once and was gone Overnight. I found him the next day, Just a short block away. Covered in snow, He shivered and quivered In my arms, All the way home.

 14  

  15  

Learning Curve As the school year ends Making way for a New beginning, I can’t help but feel Like the journey Will never be over. I learned more than I ever Have—about people and life. Away from home, No longer blind to the The cruelty along with beauty, And the balance needed In order to see the world For what it is. Learn to love it, Learn to live in it.

 16  

Where Did the Time Go? Four years seems like a long time, But sitting here in class I feel like I’m at the end of the line. Freshman year is easily remembered, Living in the sinking Lafollette When the smoking section was still packed in December. Now, the smoking sections are nonexistent— They outlawed smoking on campus. This place has changed and I can’t deny it. My four years are over, I worked so hard to avoid that victory lap. And the funny thing is, all I want now, Is those four years to come back.

  17  

Graduation Happenings Black graduation caps fly to the air Tassels dance with the late Spring gusts Parents wear plastered smiles of pride Graduates navigate through the black-gowned bodies To find the certain one to commemorate the moment With arms tossed over each others shoulders in camaraderie

 18  

PICTURE TIME AT GRADUATION Whi te smi les Camera f l a shes Deer in the head l igh ts F lee t ing g l ances Panic ensues  

  19  

Final Destination Unknown As my last semester in college comes to close I always thought that by this point everyone knows What they’re going to do for the rest of their life. Truth is, that was all an illusion This all causes me quite some confusion. I mean, didn’t I go to college so that life would be easy? I realized some two years in that was silly I contemplated dropping out. I realize now that was sillier. My best years yet were spent here. As my college career comes to an end, I have no clue where the college educated me will go But that’s the best adventure And it’s still to come.

 20