Adulting 101: College senior transitions to next phase in life

The moment I have been waiting for since my junior year of high school is almost here-student teaching. Starting Jan. 5, I will be Mr. Rudloff, student teacher at Lincoln Public Schools for Beattie Elementary, teaching third grade and kindergarten/first grade special education.

There were some moments where I felt like this day would never come. Now that the day is practically here, I cannot help but feel anxious - yet excited - about the upcoming experience.

While I am confident in my content and pedagogy, thanks to Wayne State College, the thought of running a classroom and teaching every single day seems overwhelming at times. When I really ponder the scenario, it makes me feel like I have forgotten everything I have ever learned about teaching and content.

However, I think the angst I feel about student teaching now can widely be contributed to the uncertainty and constant change that is life right now. At the end of the previous academic year, I had a pretty good idea of how my final year of college would go. Nevertheless, life did what it is good at-throwing wrenches into perfect plans.

This school year has been hard. I am not talking about academically rigorous, but I am referring to it being exhausting and emotionally draining. With the end of my college experience nearing, I was prepared to move on and start my life as an "adult." However, the change involved in this transition was something I was not fully prepared for.

Even though I am still considered a college student since I am student teaching, my time as a college student is essentially over. For the entire spring semester, I will be living in Lincoln and working full time without pay. Talk about stressful. At the same time, I will also be filling out job applications, completing paperwork and other requirements for the college and driving back to Wayne for monthly seminars.

Looking at what the next four and one-half months will be as a full picture is an overwhelming image. As difficult as I know the time will be, there will also be plenty of joy, success and new beginnings.

While the final portion of my college experience will be slightly stressful, I have realized the importance of slowing down, pacing myself and enjoying the moment. Even though there are pieces of the experience that may be difficult, it is also a time that I will never get back. So, it is important that, no matter what, I make the most of the experience and trust that everything will work out in the end.

Looking back on the last four years of my college experience, very few things went as planned when I moved onto campus in August 2018. However, I would not give up the experience I had for any other. As I get ready to close one chapter and begin a new one, I cannot imagine or wish my life being any other way