Beauty in the Ordinary
By: Raegan Coupland
Graduating from a place like Hillsdale and going into the year of my first job was a big transition. The intensity and constant change of college turned into a more repetitive and surprisingly ordinary life. Stepping into your first job, leaving your friends and community, moving to a new place, and settling into a steady rhythm is an adjustment for anyone. I went from being an Art Major, spending countless hours in the studio and sitting in Art History classes, to becoming an art teacher and teaching elementary students all day. My days started to feel like they were filled with lesson planning and grading more than anything else. Beauty started to feel more like something I left behind at Hillsdale.
But beauty doesn’t disappear after college; it changes form. Learning to recognize those changes is all a part of this transition from college to life after college. It may not be as obvious as creating an oil painting or a sculpture, but those moments of beauty are still there even if they are simple.
Intentionality
There is something very meaningful about being intentional and caring about even the small things. Create good routines for yourself and arrange and organize your space to make it more comfortable and specific to your style and taste. I have loved being able to make my space into a home, a place where I can feel at peace, a place that feels good to live in. Being intentional about these things can make the everyday things feel less like responsibilities and more like an active way to participate in beauty.
Finding joy in what you do
The work you do each day can hold a kind of beauty as well. Even though the days can start to feel repetitive and boring, try to find joy in what you do. Maybe you aren’t working your dream job, but growing in a skill, being a part of a team, learning new things, and being able to contribute to something all hold their own beauty. It may not feel exciting most days, but that contribution is real.
Creating good habits
It is important to establish good habits early on. Start by picking up a new hobby, practicing a new skill or craft, keeping a daily sketchbook, or journaling your thoughts and memories from the day. These simple things can turn even the most ordinary days into something more. Practicing the habit of stillness can also contribute to this. This is something that I struggle with, but it is such an important habit. My days are filled with so much hustle and bustle. It is easy at the end of the day to just take out my phone, “doomscroll”, and fill my head with noise. Instead, I should actively decide to make time in my day to slow down, take a beat, and be attentive to what is around me.
Life after college doesn’t mean we stop experiencing beauty; it just comes at a different pace. It becomes less about a rush of emotion or experiencing one or two big moments and more about accumulating the simple things. Find beauty in those instead.
Call a family member or friend to recall a memory or strengthen a bond with someone, find a new recipe to cook or bake, or go on a walk in the evening to reset your mind. Each of these things alone are not extraordinary, but together, small moments can result in a life that feels full.
Raegan Coupland | ‘25
I grew up in Jonesville, MI and now live near Ann Arbor. I graduated from Hillsdale College with a degree in Art and Classical Education and now teach K-3rd grade art and coach girl’s varsity volleyball at a Ivywood Classical Academy in Plymouth, MI.
Email: raegancoupland@gmail.com
Instagram: rae_k._coupland
