SMC Bucket List

As a current senior with my final semester in college fast approaching, I thought I’d create a bucket list to complete before the end of school. I’ve learned a lot, discovered passions I never knew I had, and made friends and memories that I will never forget. Here’s to making the most of your time in college with a list of 10 things you must do before graduating!

1. Start a cup drop. The iconic SMC activity is a boisterous way to bring the community together in a ten second moment of sheer chaos.
2. People watch in Burlington. I’ll admit I’ve done this more times than I can count. But can you blame me when there are people talking and singing to themselves or dressed in a mask while playing the didgeridoo? 
3. Take a class you wouldn’t otherwise take. You only get four years, so why not take that Calligraphy class or explore medieval history? I signed up to take American Studies freshmen year just because I needed four more credits for the semester and it has remained one of my favorite classes.
4. Go outside your comfort zone. I’m much of a homebody so when I decided to study abroad in Rome, Italy, I was absolutely terrified but I ended up exploring beautiful places, eating incredible food and learned independence. You don’t have to go abroad, but do something that scares you in a good way.
5.  Conquer a fear. Whether it’s a fear of heights or spiders, there’s no time like college to face it.
6. Volunteer. Find a cause you’re passionate about and fight for it. Nothing compares to the good feeling of adrenaline from giving.
7. Join a club. Get involved with something you love to do. Maybe that’s intramural sports, dancing, or art. Whatever it is, joining a club connects you to your school and you get to meet other people who are passionate about the same things as you.
8. Complete a road race. When I crossed the finish line at my first 10k, I was out of breath, cold and exhausted but the feeling of accomplishment I felt was unlike anything else I’ve experienced. You don’t have to be an athlete to be able to run or walk a road race, you just have to believe that you can.
9. DJ for a radio show. Creating a show on the campus radio was one of the best decisions I ever made because it forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and now I look forward to spending the two hours listening to music I love and connecting with my community. Try guest DJ-ing or create your own show!
10. Trust yourself. You may not have it all figured out by the time you graduate and that’s ok. The future is terrifying because you will never know what is in store for you but you have to trust your instinct and know that in the end, everything will work out. As one of my favorite quotes by John Lennon says, “Everything will be ok in the end. If it’s not ok, it’s not the end.”