College graduation and marriage are two major life milestones which require significant preparation and time. This year, one brave Oklahoma Christian student is tackling both back-to-back.
Graduating senior Cayden Abrams shared her thoughts about jumping from graduation in the spring to a wedding in the summer.
“I am really excited to graduate. Don’t get me wrong, I am going to miss OC and all of the bonds I have formed here. But I am excited to close this chapter of my life and start another,” Abrams said. “College has been one of the best experiences of my life, but I know it has to come to an end eventually.”
On top of graduating college and getting married, Cayden will begin teaching in the fall.
“Another thing I am really excited for is going into the ‘real world’ to start my career. I am going to be teaching fifth grade in the fall, and teaching is all I have ever wanted to do,” Abrams said. “I am excited to have my own classroom and grow as an educator.”
Even though Cayden has spent hours working in schools and shadowing teachers to prepare for her career, the major life transitions will still be stressful. However, Cayden said focusing on the present has helped her the most.
“It is really easy for me to always look towards the future and not live in the present. It’s easy to get caught up envisioning the amazing future I will have with Zach,” Abrams said. “However, I have been working on focusing on the present and soaking it all up. Years from now, I don’t want to look back at my college years and regret it. I don’t want to look back and see all the memories and fun times I missed out on simply for homework I could’ve done later. I don’t want to look back at the beginning of my marriage and realize I wasn’t focused on what we had now.”
During this busy time, having a sturdy support system and people you can trust to get work done is important. Cayden has relied on her fiancé, Zach, to pull her through the stress.
“My fiancé has assisted me with staying on top of academics and certifications to graduate, and my friends have kept me accountable as well on prioritizing making memories in the time I have left. Zach has continued to be my rock, my support system, my accountability partner, and my reminder of God’s love. I do not know what I would do without these loving, servant-hearted people in my life,” Abrams said.
As Cayden now has valuable insight on what it takes to prepare for college graduation and a wedding, she offers guidance to those who may face similar circumstances.
“At the risk of sounding cliche, enjoy it and prioritize. I personally know it is really easy to get swept up into busy times and get stressed out. It’s hard to balance grades, graduating, friendships, wedding planning and building a marriage. So find ways to prioritize what is important to you. I know I initially put so much pressure onto planning the “perfect wedding” and forgot what it was about,” Abrams said. I’ve learned the wedding day is not the most important, but the strength and commitment of the marriage and covenant that forms on that day. So find out what is important to you and focus on that”.
In recent weeks, Cayden has clung to this verse: “I’ve found joy in fully experiencing everything God has blessed me with and not focusing or worrying about the future.” (Matthew 6:34)
Zach and Cayden’s wedding date is set for May 12, 2024, just two weeks after graduation.
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