Today, Sunday the 29th, marks the last day of my full-time student status.

I can’t believe it’s finally over. I feel like the last two and a half years has flown by and the fact that graduation is just a few days away is equally exciting and terrifying.

I find myself logging into the portal, checking and rechecking for assignments, only to be reminded that I’ve turned everything in.

The work is done.

There is nothing more to do.

Despite my exhaustion and relief, I find it hard to accept that this chapter of my life is closing. While I’d never wish to be a lifelong student (I’d drown in student loan debt, haha!), the lost of regimen, of instructor support, and of a classroom of like-minded individuals is frightening for me.

I am grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the friendships that have formed. I have a strong support network in fellow writers, Jenifer Satonica and Merethe Walther, so I know that I will still feel some sort of regimen – both ladies have promised to hold me accountable to my writing goals!

I’ve kept in touch with several of my instructors, so I know that I can call on them if I truly need their help or guidance on a project in the future. Just because I’m done with school doesn’t mean my support network is over. I need to keep reminding myself of that.

We recently read a text for our last class entitled, Art and Fear, which addressed the torrent of emotions that artists (any person in pursuit of creative endeavors, really) face when they put their work out into the world. One of the quotes from the book that really stood out to me was the following:

“Quitting is fundamentally different from stopping. The latter happens all the time. Quitting happens once. Quitting means not starting again—and art is all about starting again.”

Just because I have STOPPED attending school doesn’t mean I’ve quit on my education. I will always learn. I will always grow. I will ALWAYS write. You can’t quit something that is part of you.

Optimistic for a beautiful ceremony next week,

~ Victoria Elizabeth