I have truly loved all four years of college, despite many ups and downs. Entering the last semester feels totally surreal (I’m sure I’ll be writing more about that in the future). But all of my positive memories are tempered with the knowledge that I was pushing myself hard. Really hard.Â
I’ve always struggled with the idea of not “doing enough”. If I wasn’t super productive, I was falling behind. I’ve definitely settled down since my overachieving high school days but getting anything less than an “A” still hurts my heart and I’ve found myself leading my senior project, working two jobs, and serving on the exec board of three clubs. I had a realization last semester that’s really crystallized recently: I’m doing way too much. Which is why I’m embracing senioritis.Â
Now, I’m not totally giving up on college. I still want to finish strong, to impress people with my capstone project and graduate with honors. I’ll never be able to fully take on the slacker lifestyle, after all. But I’ve realized that I will never be able to do what I’m doing now ever again.Â
I will never have this much easy access to my friends. Hanging out at midnight, hosting movie marathons, getting lost around town together, walking to each other’s apartments with ease, will all be over. When we all scatter in May, that chapter of my life will be forever closed. So, I’m prioritizing my social life and soaking in every moment I can. If it means not having all straight A’s this semester or saying no to events I would usually help run, I’m okay with that. Senioritis, to me, is a call to rest. I have worked hard to get where I am now, and I’m about to work for the rest of my life (until retirement). I deserve a little bit of relaxation, and more time with the people I’ve grown so close to.Â
So, if you’re anything like me, staring down the barrel of your last semester of school, make sure you still finish what you need to. But there’s nothing wrong with taking it a little easier along the way.