This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Penn chapter.
You were most likely told upon entering college as a freshman that the hardest part was getting in. While this statement has a lot of validity to it — countless hours spent on applications, obtaining letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities — it undermines the hardships you’ll face as a second semester senior. Other than the increased difficulty in classes, one of the most pressing topics on everyone’s mind is the increased pressure to think about the future.
“This will be our last…..” is a phrase that precedes lots of statements regarding activities that might have been viewed as seemingly unimportant before, such as sports games, to more sentimental ones, such as the last first day of the semester. These statements serve as frequent reminders that collegiate experiences and many friendships (those graduating with you as well as underclassmen), will soon be over. However these types of statements can also serve as an incentive to branch out and do things one wouldn’t normally do; attending a basketball game or senior class event promotes a great sense of solidarity.
In addition to the fleeting moments of university comes the harsh reality of what comes after. While the majority of seniors have legally attained the “adult” title for a couple of years, it seems that real adulthood happens after graduation, which can be incredibly intimidating. Wharton senior David Sawyers admits, ““I’m actually really nervous. You never really think about life without an educational institution in which you center your life around. I don’t know if I’ll like the real world. To be honest, its really scary to think about.”
Despite some fears, Sawyers has a lot of anticipation for what comes next. “Since I have a job, something I’ve always wanted to do, I would say I’m really excited to see what the job life has to offer, albeit very anxious.” Though some, like Sawyers, have secured a job after graduation, or have plans to continue their education further, many are still clueless. How do you answer the often dreaded and repeated question, “What are your plans after graduation?” when you don’t know?
While there is no simple answer to this question, or how to deal with being a second semester senior in general, it is important to keep things in perspective. You are not alone in feeling uncertainty in what you want to do or how you’re feeling about graduating. Many before you, after you, and currently with you in college, have been in the same boat and gone on to accomplish incredible feats. Rather than view your last semester of college as the end of a good book, think it instead as the beginning of a new chapter.
Image courtesy of: Academy of Learning.