She had it all: the career, the loving husband, the well-behaved children and a large, always clean home. Along with being a successful lawyer, there was always plenty of down time to spend with her kids and husband, and life seemed well … perfect. Is this reality, though? Probably not.

Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism, I’m way off from becoming a proclaimed lawyer, but I would like to envision myself out in the field as a thriving photographer. I’ve always been very independent my whole life and made my own money. I’ve always known I was going to go to college and make something of myself. I can’t imagine thinking of my future any other way.

Sure, this plan doesn’t seem to complicated, but what about a husband and family? Sure, marriage doesn’t have to end a career, but if you want to be a good mother, kids definitely can. I can’t imagine if my mom was off at a job while I was growing up. It was nice knowing there was always someone there, even to check up on me, and it probably kept me out of a lot of trouble.

Why worry about this so much now, though? Well, being in a six-year relationship, things are probably going to change very soon for me. And having a love for children, that won’t be too far off either. But if I do choose this life, and have kids, I’m not going to “half-ass” it. Meaning then, there will be no far-off adventures shooting in Africa for a month or working 10-hour days. So, what’s a girl to do?

Well I don’t know what my future will bring, but at least I can say I had an incredible college experience here at Kent State. Through these four years I’ve had amazing friends – most of us met in torn-up Johnson Hall. Even though I probably could have stayed in my room and worked on homework all throughout college, they never let me, and because of that I have truckloads of memories to go through life with. I can’t imagine having to leave them in a couple weeks and live alone in Lima.

Having an extremely supportive family and boyfriend has also made my college career easier. My mom and dad were always there for me through the good and bad, and always understood I needed my independence. My boyfriend has officially survived the college years of his girlfriend, including me being surrounded by boys all the time, and those many nights on the phone trying to calm me down when I was stressed and crying.

I’ve also worked with an amazing newspaper staff these four years, in which every day I worked was full of fun times and just downright good people. I’m satisfied in knowing I have accomplished many things in school, such as being in numerous clubs and serving as photo editor for the Stater, a goal I had since I was a little freshman.

So now that college is over, though, will I ever find that balance? I guess I’ll just have to find out, but for now I should probably stop watching “The Cosby Show.”

Stephanie J. Smith is a senior photojournalism major and photographer for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact her at [email protected].