Three long years after starting college we are sitting in our first classes of the semester and our professors ask us what year we are. As I am about to auto-pilot my response and say junior, I realize just before I speak and yell, “I’m a senior?!”
Those words linger in my head longer than most as I fully understand what I just said. I am a senior in college and I have no idea where the time went. What happened to first getting onto campus and not knowing where my classes are? What happened to first college exams or parties and who could forget the football tailgates and late nights studying? Within a few short months, I will be out in the real world and I have no idea where I will be.
As a senior people always are asking you, “are you exciting to be graduating?” And of course, the normal response would be “Yes! I am sooo excited to end the best four years of my life, thank you for asking!” But, in my head when I am asked this question I reply to them saying, while in fact I am scared sh*t-less. I have no idea where I will be in a year or exactly what I will be doing. I will have to pay my own bills and be responsible too. But on the bright side, I never have to worry about going to class and studying for final exams when I can barely remember what I did last weekend.
The senior lifestyle is not as glamorous as you may think. While each year you get more and more excited to be become old, you realize that college is the best four years of your life and once you’re done, all you’ll want to do is go back.
So for all you freshmen, enjoy all the little things you learn this year. Make as many friends as possible and understand that things will get easier. Your first couple weeks may be hard but, you will look back and miss these years.
For those sophomores, enjoy not being on the bottom. Yes, you are no longer a freshman and can now spot out everyone who is, walking around with their lanyards and IDs. If anything, use this time to enjoy the people around you and take those opportunities you were scared to do as a freshman.
Of course juniors, enjoy being the upper-classmen you’ve always wanted to be. Take the time to create those friendships that will last a lifetime. Go out of your way to further yourself in ways you never thought you could because before you know it you will blink and become a senior.
And finally, seniors, how the time flies. Live your life to the fullest this last year of college. Understand that you can never get these years back. Enjoy the time you have spent in college and soak up all your surroundings. Because before you know it you will be walking with a cap and gown, grabbing your diploma, and saying….ohhh shhhhh I’m a college graduate!