College can sometimes feel like a time-warp. Weeks can drag on and on in college, but semesters seem to fly by. One day you’re a fresh-faced freshman, excited and scared and eating way too much dining hall food, and the next you’re a senior, itching to get into the real world.
The experiences you have in college and the people you meet will be unique to this experience. College is one of the freest times of your life, meaning it’s the only time you’ll be able to do the things you can do now (even if it doesn’t feel like it when you’re stressing about bills and your three exams at the same time). Here’s a bucket list of things to do before you graduate.
Pull a voluntary all-nighter with your friends
You’ll never be a night owl like you are right now, and nothing bonds people more than staying up to some ungodly hour together. There’s something about the late-late night that makes people different. You’ll bond and make memories you might not have otherwise. Even if staying up makes you grumpy, you’ll have a moment where you realize there’s nowhere you would want to be than with your best friends—not even in bed. If you’re with the right group, you might not even realize what time it is.
Print your photos
You know all those drunk snapchats you have saved in your phone of you and your friends? Going back and looking through them is fun, sometimes it’s even a little emotional, but imagine yourself trying to reminisce years from now. Sure, there will be some things you won’t want your kids to see (that one Friday night you only remember through social media posts), but there will be things you’ll want to share. Start printing out your pictures. Even if it seems old-school. You’ll thank yourself in the future when you have something to hold in your hands and flip through. Something about photos just adds a nostalgic touch, and you never know what could happen to your digital photo stock.
Do something just because it interests you
College can feel like a list of obligations all lined up one after the next. It’s easy to forget sometimes that getting an education is supposed to be exciting and fulfilling, not some race to the finish. Go out and join a club you’re really interested in, even if it has nothing to do with your major. Look through the list of classes every semester and try to find one you think would truly interest you, then talk to your adviser about fitting it in. You can even explore hobbies outside of school. Now is the time to take up something you might not otherwise, and it’ll give you something fulfilling to get better at once you’re done with school.
Try a cheesy college tradition
You might not describe yourself as bursting with school pride, but tradition is a tradition for a reason. Every school has a fountain to be thrown in, a rite-of-passage night out on the town or a lawn to streak across. And if you don’t want to do any of that, at least go to a sporting event. You don’t realize how much fun painting your face and screaming at student-athletes from the stands can be. Bonus points if you go to a tailgate and buy too much concession stand food at the game.
Get out of your comfort zone
Listen, it’s time to go to that party where you only sort of, kind of, know that one guy from your freshman biology class. College is THE time to meet people, and you’ll never know if you don’t go. Don’t be scared to go to an event or try a sport or a haircut or a fashion choice you might not otherwise try. You might think people are judging you, but you’ll figure out that people are so worried about themselves they won’t have time to worry about you. If you put yourself out there, you’ll be surprised by how many people you’ll meet. You can’t meet genuine friends unless you get out of your comfort zone and show your genuine self.
HCxo!