How to feel ready to go into your final college chapter.
At the end of my junior year of college, I got diagnosed with Mononucleosis, commonly referred to as “mono.” If you’ve ever had mono, you know that this basically put an end to any activity that was not absolutely necessary in lieu of more sleep and extreme FOMO. This was not the situation I expected to be in, but I am grateful that it is happening now, and not at the end of my senior year instead.
Since my social life has been temporarily redirected towards bedrest, I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I want my senior year to look like. If you will be studying abroad this summer or if you’re traveling the hour and a half back to your hometown this summer like me, here are ways to stay connected to your college town and prepare for the best year yet.
Lean Into Being a Strategic Hoarder
My best friend came over the other day (PM – Pre-Mono) and noticed that I still had her birthday button on my bulletin board. She thought it was the sweetest thing ever and it made me realize just how many things I’ve kept throughout my life.
I live by the philosophy of strategic hoarding – that is, keeping things that have meant something to me. I have my first ever checkout from the job I’ve worked for four years, faded by the sun but still kicking. I kept the mask from the masquerade ball I attended in February. I have every button, pin and letter I’ve ever received. But I don’t keep this stuff in boxes around my house; my nostalgia is so severe it interrupts my day-to-day. I am strategic with the way in which I hold onto my things. For the past few months, I have been collecting and curating the things that have made my year special, tacking them to my bulletin board and hanging them on my walls.
These are the pieces of my Mizzou experience that bring vivid recall no matter where I am. Frankly, I’m not going to let them sit in a box for the three months I’m in St. Louis for the summer. Maybe it’s an extra day of packing and unpacking, but these are the things that allow connection to blossom. Lean into strategic hoarding, keep the small things for wall art, or a scrapbook, or just a box under your bed that you bring out whenever you’re missing school a little extra.
Turn Your Doomscrolling into Inspiration
Most of us are guilty of doomscrolling… trust that I am, especially right now. I will have a bit more free time over the summer and though I’d love to say that it will be spent sewing or reading, a lot of it will probably go to TikTok and Instagram. However, I think everything can be productive, even doomscrolling.
My recent doomscrolls have been dedicated to finding ways to decorate my new apartment with things I can find at the Dollar Tree (think thrifted frames for a gallery wall and empty wine bottles to hold my bracelets), things to do to savor my final year in school or appreciation posts for the people who get you through college. I would say some of that is pretty darn productive – at least, for TikTok. The next time you find yourself three hours deep into a mindless scroll, look up something that will make you excited for what’s to come, whether it’s inspiration for your senior apartment or game day outfit ideas. In a world of never-ending content, there is something out there that will inspire you!
Be Intentional with Your College Friends
This is a harder one for me. Listen, my college friends have changed my life. Many of them will be in my wedding. But I am not good at long-distance relationships. I tend to fall into the daily routine of my home life: hanging out with my hometown friends, working as much as I can and lying out by the pool in my backyard. Sometimes, this leads to an unintentional lack of communication with anyone who is not in my routine.
I am not trying to ghost my friends, but the relationships we have in college are so much easier to maintain because of the level of proximity. We go to class together, work together and can randomly catch each other at Willie’s or Starbucks most days of the week. So, when that is taken away, it gets more difficult to maintain a relationship.
Intentionality is a muscle that needs to be trained. This little bubble of connectivity we’re living in is getting closer and closer to popping. This summer, when I’m lying out by the pool, I need to practice intentionality. It’s not about the big stuff, like a two-hour FaceTime or a handwritten letter that you have to mail. It’s thinking about them, even if for a split second, and sending an “I Miss You” text. It’s a shared TikTok in a group chat. And yes, sometimes it is a FaceTime marathon. This intentionality will sustain your friendship despite distance so that when we get back in the fall, it’ll be all the more fun.
Get a Bucket List Going!
There’s a new spot in Columbia: Sushi Fajita. One of my good friends and I went to try it last month and we both really enjoyed it! As we were walking back to our cars after, through the streets of our college town, we realized just how little time we have left and how much we still want to do and try.
So, we planned a bucket list night. Freshman to Junior year can feel like you have all the time in the world to explore your college town, but it’s at this point that you’re going to realize just how quickly it’s dwindling. Making a bucket list, whether it’s with your friends or over summer, can give you a plan to make the conscious effort to connect with your university and the town.
Take an hour this summer, sit on your back porch or at a local bar and write down all the things you want to do in your college town before you graduate. This is going to be your guidebook on making the most of the upcoming year.
Don’t Wish a Moment Away
There are very few people out there who think that their hometowns are the coolest places ever, but every place has a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Wherever you end up this summer, don’t wish that time away.
One of my favorite quotes is “Be Where Your Feet Are.” I strive to live by this. Summer is an opportunity in the same way each semester is an opportunity. For me, it is an opportunity for rest and recentering. For others, it will be a career opportunity. I’m excited for the deep breath that summer will allow me before I step into this final chapter at Mizzou.
You might’ve noticed – it’s all about intentionality. Your sophomore, junior and senior years begin with the choices you make over the summer. So, have a good, intentional summer and get ready for August – it’s going to be great!