I am excited to announce

I’ve come to find there is an expectation around graduation season to take the opportunity to declare something about your future. There is something incredibly fulfilling about notifying friends, family, and the other 100+ followers on your social feed you’ve met once or vaguely know the name of that you have found the title of your next chapter. And that totally makes sense. 

As I anticipated even before this pandemic, I knew my passions and career goals might not result in a quick and easy entry-level job before graduation – I knew this. So, to ease any questions from those who ever read my writing: I have not solidified my post-grad plans. 

I am still in the process of determining my next move, so I have no job announcement to offer my “fans.” 

But at its core, an announcement is warranted when the status of something has changed. Personal announcements then serve as a means to keep your circle in the loop. They are a self-serving practice to declare ideas, events, and truths about yourself, publicly. 

So I want to do that. 

In a true attempting to be introspective, and at times unnecessary fashion, here are some things I am excited to announce as a mere days-away graduate:

I am excited to announce that I have reached a 24-day streak on my French lessons in Duolingo (Je ne suis qu’un débutant, mais cela semble prometteur). 

I am excited to announce that from a card game I was able to determine a professional weakness (turns out, I don’t *love* taking advice). 

I am excited to announce that I successfully made my roommates watch When Harry Met Sally and Greta Gerwig’s Little Women in the same week.

I am excited to announce that my parents gave our house a sick paint job and that the Bennetts are now the envy of our street. 

I am excited to announce that my brother successfully defended his portfolio for his Masters in Public Administration from the School of Government at UNC-Chapel Hill and will get to put cute initials after his name. 

I am excited to announce that my dog has now matured to make my mom only break into hysterics at a minimum of twice a week (we are very proud of Hannah). 

I am excited to announce that my mentor is due to have her first child at the beginning of May and is going to be a fantastic mom (I know this because she’s already doing a great job at easing my worries). 

I am excited to announce that I love Gene Kelly so much that I tried to learn a section of he and Donald O’Connor’s duet from Singin’ In the Rain in my kitchen which resulted in me kicking myself so hard in the shin that a nice bruise has formed (it now resembles a nice shade of pea-green). 

I am excited to announce I have unintentionally memorized the tracklist to Two Friends’ Big Bootie Mix No. 17 (minutes 19:13 – 20:57 are transcendent). 

I am excited to announce that I did my first ballet barre exercise in three years (?) on a wood dock facing the ocean yesterday morning (no splinters were had and I actually could hold a balance for a count of eight). 

I am excited to announce that my last group project of my collegiate career was by far the best I’ve ever had (if Facebook needs crisis counseling, call us). 

I am excited to announce that after almost five years, I have managed to keep the same group chat of three high school buddies who make me laugh and keep my aesthetic fresh (Rampant Lines has never been the same).

I am excited to announce that there’s a new Ryan Murphy limited series coming to Netflix about a reimagined Golden Age in Hollywood and that is just very, very me-energy. 

I am excited to announce I finally enjoy eating broccoli and asparagus after a 20-year long battle (I’ve found the key is roasting in the oven with olive oil. Thank you, McCrib).

I am excited to announce that my favorite professor of all time, John Robinson, was recognized for a teaching award and was showered in praise by hundreds of past students and colleagues in the past few days (he is the most deserving).

I am excited to announce that my old boss in London is pursuing his passion to be an animator and that we still stay in touch to laugh at ourselves and our huge dreams.

I am excited to announce that film studios are being pretty proactive surrounding the COVID-19 disruption (A24 is auctioning costumes and memorabilia for charity, Lionsgate is having free screenings of some of their hits live on YouTube, Netflix launched a $100 creative fund, Sony and Warner Bros. are also donating a bunch of money to laid-off production staff and healthcare workers, and Disney/ESPN went ahead and released Michael’s documentary early). 

I am excited to announce that I have managed to keep three out of my seven New Year’s resolutions (a book a month is immense growth for me). 

I am excited to announce I finally made the effort to add a George Harrison album to my vinyl collection and I think it’s the best purchase I’ve made in the last six months next to my new blush lip shade (still embodying the red, of course). 

I am excited to announce that I indoctrinated my friend, Katie Taylor, to watch all nine films of the Star Wars franchise this past winter (she now quotes references to me and I’m very proud of her). 

I am excited to announce that I finished my college degree in one piece and that I made the right choice to let my obsession with Tyler Hansborough get the better of me when I was 17.

I am excited to announce that I have found people and things in the last four years that are essential to my life going forward.

I am excited to announce that I have found people and things that are nonessential. 

I am excited to announce that I am in love (with myself on most days and with a young man who is more than I could ever want and is exactly who I need).

I am excited to announce I am slowly but surely embracing the idea that the unexpected does not automatically get to be deemed detrimental. 

I am excited to announce that I am excited for whatever’s next simply because it will be “next.”

And how lovely it is that there will always be a “next.”