To Second Semester Seniors

This is it: the last semester of this step of your education. How do you feel? Excited? Tired? Ready to have this semester over with so you can move on to what’s next? All of these are understandable, but there are a few things you should remember when going into this downhill slide of a semester.

1. Don’t get too complacent.

You may feel like you don’t need to keep working hard for the last few months of education and that it’s a good idea to just coast your way to graduation. This isn’t the case. Don’t let all the effort you’ve put into school to this point be for nothing. Keep working diligently and don’t let your GPA slip at the last moment because you’re burned out on assignments.

2. There’s still time to network.

You may have classes with new professors and new peers, and you still have a semester to make friends and colleagues in your field. You can learn a lot from your professors, whether that’s the ways you can use your degree, how to apply for graduate school, or lessons that are a lot more personal. They’re cool people, and you should get to know them.

3. Have a plan.

Do you want to go straight into your career, after finishing school? Pursue another degree? Enter the service? Start a family? Whatever it is you envision for yourself after graduation, make sure you’re thinking about how to get where you need to go. Give yourself the chance to succeed by being prepared.

4. Make time for you.

As you prepare for graduation and all sorts of deadlines, things are going to be hectic and stressful. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Build time into your schedule for relaxation, whether that means watching Netflix alone in your room, or having fun with friends, or finding an animal to pet or whatever makes you happy. Breaks help keep stress from ruling your life, and as long as you still meet those deadlines, it’s okay to take a breather now and then.

5. Remember: you’ve made it this far, and that’s fantastic.

No matter how stressful this coming semester gets, remember that you’ve worked hard to get here. It hasn’t been a walk in the park getting through so many classes and so much homework, but you’ve almost reached the end, and that’s something worth celebrating.