1.Finally, my last year!

*cue Etta James singing “At Last.”* After all this time, you’re truly beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s finally our turn to post all the cute, sad “last-firsts" pictures and posts after years of envying those who were actually on track.

2. Holy s@#* I’ll have a degree this time next year!

The elusive degree you’ve been chasing for what feels like forever is finally within reach; it’s like that insurance commercial where the man is dangling a dollar from a fishing line. Your degree is so close you can almost visualize your degree hanging on the wall and that same lonely dollar bill as the only one you have to your name.

3. What will I even do with all the free time?

Work, that’s what. Those bills don’t pay themselves!

4. Not another syllabus day……

Six years of college totals 12 syllabus days, 24 if you count the second day of classes. Most of the diatribe you hear on these days changes very little from year to year. You’d think after sitting through so many we’d be politely excused. We’re practically professional students, anyway.

5. Can we fast forward to May already?

Two more entire semesters of classes just seems like more of an eternity than five whole years. If we could manage to make time go faster and speed ahead to graduation, that would be fantastic.

6. No regrets

I personally think I’ve said this to myself at the start of every semester and I still usually end up with a few regrets. But now that the end is finally within reach, it’s time to live it up for real. Take advantage of every opportunity you can and don’t miss a thing if you can help it.

7. How do I go about creating a career?

Those two victory laps you just took put this question on the back burner. Now that it’s time to start applying for real, salaried jobs, there’s that “oh s*%#” moment where you realize this is not a drill and you are actually going to begin making decisions larger than how long you can procrastinate that paper due next week.

8. Holy s@$# this is real!

Like those thoughts about a career, the idea of actually having a real, adult life was just some distant dream. Then one day you suddenly realized that, in a year’s time, you won’t have to go to classes anymore and you’ll actually have to find something else to do with all your time.

9. Professional attire? What is that and where do I find this?

Speaking of real jobs and adult things: It’s just about time to switch out the shorts at T-shirts for a nice pantsuit complete with a spiffy blazer.

10. Geez, I don’t recognize any of these people.

It’s a sad day when you get to campus and upon walking to your first class, realize you don’t see any of the same faces you used to. Even though you probably didn’t know any of them by name, the familiarity of a few faces is always appreciated. This is one thing that’s sure to make you feel super old and like it’s time for you to get the heck out before you become a fossil.

11. Silly freshmen

It’s real cute to see them all dressed up and wandering around with a printed version of their class schedule because it’s nostalgic; it takes you back to the day another lifetime ago when you were that freshman who had no clue how this whole college thing worked. Now, it’s cool to have the knowledge to lend a helping hand where needed.

12. I wish I’d graduated on time

Unlike fine wine or cheese, college does not, in fact, get better with age. It gets worse; everything becomes more expensive, parking becomes more a literal nightmare than ever, the school is changing right before your eyes, and you’re pulling more all-nighters than ever, and constantly being confused for a sophomore or junior. It’s just time to graduate and move on already.