STRAIGHT OUTTA COLLEGE

Jessica Jones
Sep 1, 2015
2 min read

Exactly a year ago, I sent in my last assignment completing my five year roller coaster as a college undergrad. And on the anniversary from 8am classes and last minute finals study sessions, what have I done since then? Well let's be honest for a second. I followed the traditional Pre-K thru College pathway and have literally been in school almost my whole life #scholastichustla. And part of that reason for a lifetime's worth of experiencing America's education system was due to my parents.

To put it into perspective, my fam, which included my immediate family as well as my church family, had the Jefferson's mentality. We all tryin' to move on up. With that in mind, what do two chocolatey parents do with their first child? Send my ass to school. To be honest, I have more memories at school than at my house, My Granny’s house and church combined. Low key: they should’ve just let me live there. Hell, give me a Caprisun and a Lunchable with one of them Kindergarten naptime mats and I’d be solid.But now, that I’m out of school, have a diploma listing both BAs that I obtained within five years of scholastic hustlin’, what do I have to show for it?

Well, that’s thing. I DON’T KNOW :|

Throughout my whole academic career, I spent a lot of my time living in the present. For example, I was either playin’ on the playground during elementary, tryin’ to be cool and failin’ miserably during middle school and doin’ all the school activities during high school i.e. government, Story and Song member, actress in school plays and cheerleader. And in college, it was a collection of soul searching, acting and directing plays, interning, event organizing, adult life transitioning and ultimately kickin’ it with friends especially with those who became my extended family.

So of course, my academics fell by the wayside, were put on the back burner and then put on a shelf collecting dust until I remembered it. I mean I knew the importance of my academics. Hell, that’s why I went to college. But sometimes, the road to completion just seemed so monotonous. I mean let’s be real I would rather support my fam at a spoken word festival than read a historical English novel from the 18th century where even the main character didn’t even know what the fuck he was doing (YA! I’m talking to you Waverly witcha bitch ass).

Well, now it’s September 1, 2015 and it’s been a year since I was straight outta college. But in terms of having enough job experience, I was straight outta options. This whole year outta college has been a roller coaster of emotions, disappointments and pressures and it’s time to reflect on my misguided adventures.