The Ride is Great...but?

Wow...is it monday morning already? Please tell me it isn't so! I am totally unprepared for this week, and yet, I wouldn't have wanted to spend my weekend any other way. First of all, last week was spend running around here and there between the hectic schedule of classes--quizzes, tests, and papers--working, and watching my bro finish off his basketball season.
It's the end of an era. I knew it would end, the season would close and the final game would be played. But I didn't ever really grasp the emotion that would follow knowing there wouldn't be any more games. I mean, we've been doing this since he was 7--for ten years there have been countless games, saturday roadtrips, buzzer-beater shots, and now it's all over. The last game wasn't spectacular, I guess you have to go out a loser, because the winners keep playing...but he played with heart and hustle, and determination. And now it just ends.
There's more to this feeling of finality to me. It seems it's all just this race until the eventual letdown of the end. The ride is great, ups/downs and a lot of tears and joy along the way. But seriously, I want to spend this in a better way. I'm frustrated with the amount of time I have to spend in school. Which, as I'm happy to be learning, I just can't see the value in all of it. Simply to get a better job with more money? I'm letting that drive me? I've never let money drive me, because as much as I love it...and need it, there is so much I can do without it. Yes, I want to pay my bills, and eat, and buy the things I want, but I can do all that it seems without sacrificing too much of my self. I feel like I lose too much of myself here, at this school, for as much as I've gained here...I'm giving too much away. For acceptance that I will never get here.
Something is reminding me, something is pulling at me to change. To focus, and bring back who I was. And it's hard to do that, without pulling myself out completely. I just want to pull myself out so I can fix these things because once I can do that, it'll be great again.