As I’m sure many of us can relate to, staying in the moment can be difficult, especially when it seems like there are a billion other things to worry about. As a second semester senior, I’m here to give some insight on how we can stop and smell the roses every once in a while and appreciate our time in college while it’s still here. Coming into this year, I knew I wanted to cross a bunch of things off my “Bucknell bucket list.” In other words, I wanted to take advantage of and experience every opportunity Bucknell has to offer before my time here is done. I like to think that over my past 3.5 years here, I’ve done a pretty good job of that, but there are still things I have yet to do. For example, while I have been involved in various groups on campus and gone to many of the campus events, there are still things I have not done and gone to as much as I would like to. 7th Street Makerspace, for one, is a place I have utilized, but not nearly as much as I wish I had. I think for me, staying in the moment as a senior means acknowledging that my time here is almost up and I should do anything and everything to relish in that time left.
One thing that has stuck with me throughout this year thus far has been experiencing gratitude. It may seem cheesy, but it really makes you appreciate everything around you and slow down a bit so you can soak it all in. Whether I’m walking across the quad, or having my last first class of the semester, recognizing how wonderful it all is makes me stop and be in the moment just a little bit more than I usually am. I have found that in those moments, I am more present and thankful for everything my time here has brought me. In an article I wrote last spring, entitled “Why I’m Writing About My Happy Things, and Why You Should, Too!,” I discussed my journal of happy things that occur throughout the day. This journal has turned into somewhat of a gratitude journal for me, influencing my mindfulness and how I stay present each day. All of the little happy things put together that I notice more because of this practice keeps me in check of not getting lost in what can seem like an overwhelming future.
In my opinion, being grateful for where you are at this moment is a key factor in staying in the present. When you take the time to be in awe of your surroundings, you will feel much more grounded. As seniors especially, I think it is important for us to acknowledge these last few months here and take more time to be with friends, do things we might not have in other years, and just sit back and look at the amazing things around us. College really does fly by, but if we stop and look around once in a while, we hopefully won’t miss what’s right in front of us. By doing this, we can also curb some of that existential dread that comes with graduating. When we’re focused on the now, the future doesn’t seem so scary. I hope that maintaining gratitude helps you stay in the moment this semester and onwards, and remember that it’s the small things that make up the big ones!