Dear Rising Seniors,
You are now the big people on campus, whether it be your fourth, fifth, or sixth year. You can go out on a Monday, but also have gotten a hang of the way your major and minor classes work. You haven’t been self-conscious walking on campus since freshman year. And now maybe you have your first house. This is your last year at the University of Georgia, and there are a few things you should know.
First off, make sure you are actually graduating. UGA advisors are only human and may have lead us astray a few times, so make an appointment with the advisor that is supposed to catch those mistakes. Your graduation advisor double checks everything and will most likely catch something that your department advisor or mentor mightn’t have seen. Despite being told I was ready to graduate by multiple advisors and filling out all my sections on Bulletin, my graduation advisor showed me that I was 4 hours off from the 120 hour rule. I didn’t even know that rule existed! Thank goodness she caught this a semester early, because I was able to make up those hours and graduate on time. Some of my friends haven’t been so lucky, and checking Bulletin is not enough. So make your graduation check appointments at least a semester early so there are no surprises at the last minute!
Do the things that make Athens and UGA the magical, wonderful place it is for you. Never feel obligated to make a “bucket list.” Sometimes you get caught up in finding the Iron Horse and getting every Terrapin cup or doing everything that people tell you that you should do. You may forget to do the things you really enjoy because you’re frantically trying to finish your list. You may even forget about the people who really matter and have made Athens/UGA the place it is for you. So focus on what and who makes you happy these last wonderful months in the Classic City, whether that be going to every UGA sporting event possible or getting the most out of your favorite Athens dives.
Explore the tucked away parts of Athens and UGA. Maybe you could go to the Transmet out on Tallahassee instead of downtown or find a new band you like. Or you could go frolic in the botanical gardens or get a taste at the UGA creamery! Supplement the things you love with something new and exciting, and don’t forget to take the people you love along with you!
Always be open to new friendships. I made so many friendships all throughout college and some of my best friends my last few semesters of college. Though it was heartbreaking to all leave them, I am better for knowing them. Social media and phones make it so easy to stay connected to friends old and new… So stay in touch!
Along the way, don’t forget that you’re here for school. Don’t let your grades fall by the wayside, but don’t let them rule your life. It is a fine line to walk, but we’re Dawgs, and we can do it.
Graduation is something bittersweet. It’s a celebration of the life you’ve made at UGA—academically, socially, etc. Though it is sad to leave Athens (it’s okay to cry), revel in what you have done. You have a degree, independence, friends! You’re going to enter a new, exciting phase of life with the experiences you’ve gained at the University of Georgia. And who can be more prepared than that?
Go Dawgs!
HCXO,
Leslie