The Airport Goodbye

I keep thinking about that scene at the end of Booksmart, the one where Molly and Amy say goodbye at the airport. It feels kind of rushed and messy and unexpectedly emotional. Amy is leaving and Molly is staying, and their whole high school chapter is coming to a close—and neither of them is really ready for that. It’s funny and awkward but full of love, and honestly? That is exactly how graduating college feels.

The Bittersweet Countdown

I am about to graduate, and it is hitting me in so many waves. I feel like yesterday I was excited and ready, and today I’m clinging to every moment that once felt so small but now feels so big and meaningful. It’s that weird in-between space of not quite being done but also knowing that I literally graduate in two days. It feels so bittersweet.

The Booksmart Effect

As somebody who watches any and every graduation-themed movie, Booksmart made me laugh a lot. I also saw pieces of myself in Molly and Amy—especially that desperate feeling of needing to make it all matter before I run off and put my degree to use. They crammed four years of fun into one night, trying to undo what they thought they had missed. It made me think a lot about what I focused on, what I let go of, and what I am still holding close. I finished my bachelor’s in two years and feel like I let go of a lot of “fun” and that I missed out.

College Wasn’t Perfect—But It Mattered

Now, don’t get me wrong—college was not perfect. There were hard days and lonely stretches when I questioned if I even wanted to pursue what I was majoring in. But there were also friendships that blossomed, professors that paved the way for me, and nights that built me into who I am. And like in Booksmart, it all went by so fast.

Saying Goodbye to Who We Were

I think what makes graduation such an emotional feeling is not just leaving campus or finishing your last class. It’s saying goodbye to the version of ourselves that only existed there. The version that grew up commuting or living in dorms, and also learned hard lessons in between it all. That version that maybe didn’t have it all figured out in the beginning, but tried anyway.

The Fear and the Hope

And just like Molly and Amy, I am scared of what’s next—and if I can even do it. I’m also kind of excited, because endings don’t always have to be sad. They can be funny and full of love too. It’s the start of something entirely new and raw for myself.

Here’s to What Comes Next

So, if you’re graduating soon, or already have—here’s to messy goodbyes, unexpected growth, and the friends who made the journey all worth it. Here’s to that next chapter, whatever it looks like.