College seniors are preparing for their last fall semester of their undergrad career, or for the December grads, their last semester.
Here is a list of to-do's to get you through these last months, and across the stage without feeling like you missed out.
1. Take a class outside of your major or school, for fun. Being completely out of your chosen element is scary, but exhilarating. You’ll be in a completely new building on campus, meet some interesting people and maybe find a new interest of yours.2. Power hour. During class. If you’re like me, you probably already did this sophomore year, but it’s fun to revisit memory lane and to execute it correctly. Planning is of the utmost importance; trust me. You don’t want to be happy hour happy 40 minutes into class, and you want to be sure there’s little possibility of being called on to present something (that was my bad). Make that coffee Irish, gather some trusted confidants and head to class.
3. Master the art of mixology. Let’s face it, in the real world it’s frowned upon to ask "So, where's the trashcan punch?" at the company Christmas party. Research different brands of your favorite liquors, do some reading up on recipes and invest in quality bar accessories, so that when the moment arises you can confidently craft your own cocktail, or offer someone a quality beverage. By the time I walk the stage in May, I’ll make the best Mexican and Gin martinis this side of the Mississippi.
4. Get to know that cool professor you had sophomore year. In the moment it’s easy to get caught up in the piles of work they give you, and you fail to fully appreciate what a great person they were. Stop by their office hours to reconnect, invite them to get a coffee or tell them about the killer opportunity you just landed and how grateful you are that they had a hand in it.
5. Pick a favorite spot on campus and sit for awhile. Do this because in a few short months, the next time you’ll be relishing in the beauty of campus is Homecoming. Remember the reasons why you decided on this school specifically, that horrid freshmen year roommate, the times when you just hit a wall and thought that you couldn’t keep going. Then smile, because you’re almost there.
6. Thank the people that made these years possible. Write a thank you note to your favorite high school teacher or counselor thanking them for pushing you to succeed. Thank your parents, or whoever footed the tuition bill; thank your parents for putting up with your nervous breakdowns and quarter life crises (please tell me I’m not the only one); thank that really horrible professor for being really horrible. Just express your thanks to those that will be cheering you on as you walk the stage.
7. Run the Good Ole Baylor Line one last time. Schools in Texas have a lot of traditions, and this one is as old as time itself. Even if it’s 28 degrees outside, run the line with the freshmen class to be part of this. You’ll only regret it if you don’t do it.
8. Say “Yes” more often. Don’t become a pushover, but take advantage of unplanned opportunities. Go on that spontaneous trip to West, Texas for 3am kolaches, say yes to a double-header happy hour, go to that interview for the job you don't really want and just say no to Netflix and sweatpants.
9. Start a new tradition. Gather weekly to watch your favorite TV drama with your favorite people, or arrange for bimonthly brunches with those long lost friends from freshmen year. Enjoy spending time with the people that matter the most.
10. Actually graduate. It seems easy to get caught up in the sentiment of the first of your lasts at school, but graduation is the natural progression of this journey. So don’t fight it! Soak up every "last" you have, because the real world is knocking.
