What's it like to graduate late? You're dealing with a stigma associated with going into college right after high school, and getting out of college in 4 years. You're supposed to have your life figured out by age 22.
If you have it all figured out, congrats! But if you don't, it's OK. Everyone has a different timeline. Everyone has a different sequence of events controlling their life. Everyone has different goals and ways of achieving their goals. Here's how it feels to be a super-senior at UCF:
1. All my friends are moving on...
Time to make new friends, I guess.2. You hear a murmur of "UCF = U Can't Finish"
I CAN finish, and I WILL finish, so get out of my face.3. No, I'm graduating, I don't have time to join a sorority.
Campaigning for sororities never seems to stop. I'm not going to spend money to rush and then graduate within a semester.4. Is everyone getting younger?
You suddenly realize everyone in your weed-out class that you put off looks like Justin Bieber singing "Baby." Are you sure you're old enough to be in college? Where is your mother?5. The thought of college bars makes me cringe
Literally cringe. When it's 5 in the afternoon and the floor of the bar is drenched in beer, that's not okay. But if you stay dry it can be entertaining to stand back and watch everyone else act like a fool. Non-super-seniors be like:6. There's a sense of confidence associated with being the older student.
I run this place.7. NO, I AM GRADUATING, I WILL NOT JOIN YOUR SORORITY.
But thanks for asking again. Well, I have always wanted to be part of an exclusive group... Maybe you could give me a little more information and I'll think about it...8. I have a little more time to network with people linked to college.
From on-campus community events to grad school panels to job fairs, college has it all.Awkward ice-breakers aside, college spoon feeds those important connections to you. Might as well take advantage of them while I still can.
9. I have a little more time for school spirit/exclusive events
FOR FREE. Free sporting events, free giveaways, free concerts, free theme park tickets, free ice-skating. The list is like Fruit By The Foot or Drake: it goes on and on.10. I have free access to healthcare and more.
11. I have a little more life experience.
As a working college student, I have learned that life will throw a curve ball at you. The world and everyone in it are constantly changing and has taught me to be flexible. The extra time in school has allowed me to hone in on my interests and figure out that I should have no end goals in my career, but instead keep surpassing myself in whatever opportunities come my way.12. Maybe if I pick up a second major, I can join that sorority...
