I’ve documented my Wellesley experience on this blog since October of my first year. This site saw spontaneous sing-alongs in my dorm, the chaos of leaving campus in March 2020, and my reflections on returning to Wellesley at the height of covid restrictions. It saw milestones like declaring my major, getting my braces off, and finalizing my decision to spend a semester in the Galapagos. It followed me to Spain and to Vermont. It saw me learn to be more spontaneous and remember to take breaks. It gave me the space to connect the dots between my courses.
And now, it’s seeing me through commencement.
My classmates and I graduated on Saturday. The rain held off until we were seated under the massive graduation tent, but once it started, it didn’t stop. The whole thing went by in a blur. I was sitting and hearing names being called, and then I was standing, and then I was crossing the stage and shaking President Johnson’s hand, and then boom. Back to my seat with my diploma case. More names. More cheers. A sing-along of America the Beautiful. And done.
I had a blast decorating my grad cap 🙂
Afterwards, I huddled under the food tent with my brother and scarfed down a dry sandwich. I took a decorative eggplant from the hummus and veggie table and posed with it in the library. I listened to “Stick Season” and cried as I walked back to Shafer to pack up the rest of my stuff, then cried when I said goodbye to my two closest friends. I know that I can visit whenever, but Wellesley will never be full of my people again.
Me and my graduation eggplant (which was delicious roasted)
I’m grateful to this blog for giving me the space to reflect, one or two weeks at a time, as I’ve worked my way through Wellesley. Wellesley was hard. Scheduling my day around 4:45 a.m. practices meant sacrificing fun things in the evenings. Working three jobs for my first three years meant I rarely had time to dawdle. Some of my closest friendships didn’t last more than a year.
But Wellesley gave me so much. It gave me months in Spain and the Galapagos. It gave me mentors in the workplace, the classroom, the library. It gave me bedtime chats in the dorm bathroom and bus ride chats after morning practice. I spent so many good afternoons outside on sunny days. It taught me to prioritize being with the people I love, rather than staying in one place for nostalgia’s sake. (Yes, I am a proud Shafer lifer. Yes, I learned some things along the way.)
Goodbye, Shafer 304.
Cars lining up to take their students away
I don’t have any big regrets about my time at Wellesley. There were a couple classes I didn’t love, but that’s life. If I could do a fifth year for fun, I would. (I would definitely get off the meal plan.)
Most of all, college taught me that there’s so much left to learn.
I’m starting my life as a Wellesley alum with a bike ride from Baltimore to San Francisco this summer. In the fall, thanks to a grant from Wellesley’s Albright Institute, I’m planning a podcasting project in Quito and the Ecuadorian Amazon. I’m nervous and excited about both of these things. That’s how all good adventures begin.
So, if you’ve been reading this, thank you. Writing this blog all four years has been a gift. This is my last post for Wellesley, but you can find me on my personal blog.
Over and out,
Macy
The view of Galen Stone Tower from my last Pond Rd run