For the second semester seniors out there who are starting to feel like the ride on that rollercoaster ride is starting to be a little too rough and bumpy, remember that it is okay. This is it! We are looking are looking through the tunnel, seeing the lights flashing at the end but it just feels like it is too far away….well it’s not. Five weeks ladies and gentlemen, five weeks is all that we have left to experience college. Five weeks to get stupidly drunk at Wing Night at Billy Murphy’s, re-live your Why Not Wednesday days at Mad River, and do the same thing again at MRT (Mad River Thursdays). Go to classes still drunk, because technically when you’re in college it is socially acceptable to do so. Once we have that $180,000 slip of paper, we cannot get go to happy hour from 6pm-2am and go to work still hammered in the same outfit as yesterday, I have a very strong feeling that it will not fly in Corperate America, or any other job besides a student.
My guidelines to assist you in getting through the next few weeks are easy,
1. Take advantage of your student ID, while you still can. College students can get some pretty great deals and discounts at stores and food chains just by showing their student ID. Keep showing off that ID while you can!
2. Apply to jobs that interest you, and only ones that interest you. Don’t take a sales position if you want to design fabric for a manufacturer. Having a job right out of college really is not the end of the world.
3. Taking the summer off is not a bad thing. Work a fun summer job, work at a summer camp or bartend, you don’t need a plan. Hell, take time to travel around the world or visit your friends around the states. Do things this summer that you will never be able to do, we all know that the real world is facing us in just a few short months. You just kicked your own ass to finish and pass all of your senior year classes to still graduate. That fact alone is an accomplishment alone, go you!
4. Have a few breakdowns to your mom on the phone, believe me it will make you feel better. Mom’s always seem to know the best things to say to make any situation better. Call your mom.
5. Give yourself some credit here and there. Take a few minutes to look back on how far you have come since move in day freshman year…look back on those memories and laugh followed by some tears at how old you are now feeling.
6. Go have a drink, or five, maybe eight for that matter. Go take a break from your senior project or Contemp paper. Whatever it is that’s stressing you out, go take a few drinks and relax, you’ll get through it.
7. Spend time with your friends. College friends really are some of the best friends that you will ever meet. There is a reason why many of our parents, aunts and uncles have had their college besties and buddies in their wedding party- these friends have seen you and been with you at your lowest and highest points. They are lifer friends. Hangout with them, it is a whole lot easier to spend time with them while your practically neighbors, and not having to coordinate schedules and modes of travel when you are in different cities and states. Just go be with your friends!
8. Don’t entirely slack off the remaining classes that you do have left. The absolute last thing that you would want to do is to expect to graduate and it turn out you that you failed a class and have to spend another semester or two in college. Your future self would most likely hate you (or absolutely love you).
9. Take a Netflix break until after graduation! Enjoy activities at your school and the company of your classmates. Go to sporting games and support your peers. Just stop hiding behind the computer screens, start being social with those around you!
10. Go have a few drinks, because you probably did not have enough the first time, believe me you have earned them.
Just remember that there are only so many weeks left. You don’t want to look back and be bummed for not going out or missing that school event. Go to all things PhilaU and put a smile on your face because you are almost there!