I’ve always wondered why universities require certain classes/subjects. Is it an “educational standard” thing? Is it a state law thing? A cultural thing? All of the above? I’m not sure.

Last Tuesday, I was heading outside my house and walking down Jackson Street to FIJI when I felt this slim object rattling around in my near-empty backpack. The object in question is a Native American Flute. It’s somehow worth $180 according to the Beaver Store. I can’t use any different type of flute because the professor requires this specific hand-made style of flute, and I couldn’t find another one anywhere else for cheaper. So, as I was walking up Jackson headed to 25th, feeling this foot-and-a-half-long flute rattling around in my bag that burned a hole in my bank account, I felt nothing but relief.

This term, I am only taking 3 credits as that is all I need to graduate. Technically, I’ve already hit the 212-credit threshold required to graduate with both of my bachelor’s degrees, but the university requires certain course areas to be covered during your undergraduate time. The one area I needed was a “Non-Western Culture” class, and Native American Flute was the easiest course to pick from that area.

I know what you’re thinking: “Why didn’t you just take the extra 3 credits last term so you would be done already?” Well, the best answer I can give is that I got lucky.

In high school, I took a total of 64 credits through my community college with classes known as AP/CC. The high school classes were accredited through Umpqua Community College and didn’t cost me a thing. It’s a phenomenal program. Those credits were already added to MyDegrees when I came to college. But I took two AP tests (AP European History & AP U.S. History), and I never sent the scores to the university because I thought they wouldn’t apply and I had enough credits already. I forgot about them for a while, and only after being reminded by a friend that I realize I could’ve used those to my credit totals. I was terrified because my college fund and scholarships would not be enough to make it to the end of spring term. I needed 10 credits initially, and I would be a couple thousand short to cover tuition, rent, and dues. Loans wouldn’t make sense to take out for this small amount, and I wanted to hold out going into debt as long as possible until I made it to law school. So when I met with my advisor and those credits got added in, a huge burden was relieved as I had gone from needing 10 credits to graduating to being over the threshold but needing one class to satisfy a Bacc core so I could finish my political science degree.

So, as I’m walking up Jackson, my empty backpack shifting awkwardly as I take each step, I feel very grateful. I’m proud of my work this far, which allows me to walk to class with nothing but a Native American flute in my backpack. Years of work in high school allowed me to graduate with an Associate’s degree. Despite starting two terms late at Oregon State because of state office, I’m graduating on time with two degrees and not a single penny of debt. What has been a bag full of chewed-up pens, an overheating MacBook Pro, multiple notebooks with pages of poorly written cursive notes, and the occasional bag of candy and/or energy drink has been traded for a long, awkward Native American flute. The next four months will not be spent calculating hypothetical grades on Canvas or telling myself that “two more Youtube videos and I’m good to start homework” at 9:47pm the night it’s due. The headaches caused by staring into a dimly lit computer screen, hunched over in the Valley Library, are a thing of the past as I prepare to graduate. Now, that’s not to say these moments of stress are gone forever; I have three years of law school to beat me senseless with ridiculous cases to read and arbitrary briefs to write. But for now, I am aware of the opportunity to fully enjoy these moments and the circumstances that allow me to relax and enjoy walking around with a Native American Flute in my bag.

I always struggle with having absolutely nothing to do and being completely selfish with my time. Having grown up on a farm, there’s always been something that needs to be done or some project I could do around the house. For the first time in a long time, I’m focused on being selfish for me. When we work hard, we deserve a break. I have worked hard over the last few years and deserve this break from stress. And I’m excited to focus on aspects of my life that need self-improvement, that I’ve purposely neglected over the excuse that I’ve been too busy or other priorities need my attention. I’m grateful that I’m allowing myself to enjoy myself. And I’m thrilled about the experiences that I will get to have stress-free over the next few months.

So right now, I am most grateful for this Native American Flute that cost me $180 from the Beaver Store, not for the cultural significance (sorry, professor), for its tall, awkward build, or the weird little green bag that comes with it, but for allowing me to be able to focus on myself for the first time in a long time, and the experiences that come with being 21 and a senior in undergrad.

Find something to be grateful for. I know I am right now.
-Colby