It’s the summer before senior year, and reality hits that
classes will be starting in about a month. This means that soon it’ll be time
to look at all the experiences you’ve had over the past three years and
decide where you want to go next. While the thought of facing the future
can be terrifying, there's no need to fall prey to the senior scramble - that chaos which comes from trying desperately to control some aspect of an uncertain future. These efforts consume your time and steal the joy which is waiting for you in the final moments of your undergraduate experience. I believe we can do better than this, and that all the preparation we’ve
done has led up to this moment when we can finish strong and show how much we’ve grown. Here are six tips to make this year the best one yet!
1. Make a plan.
There's nothing better for stress relief than starting early. You know the deadlines are coming up fast, so why wait? Right now, before the school year starts, is the best time to brainstorm all the opportunities available and maybe get started on an application or two. I know you wanted to watch Netflix after your internship today, but before you binge watch Parks and Recreation you might as well take an hour and make a timeline for your most important decisions. If the application is due in December, create a schedule that will keep you on track from week to week and even get you done early enough to proofread it several times. You'll never be sorry you were organized, and you can't be too prepared when it comes to your future.
2. Don't compare yourself to others.
So the guy who sits beside you in class just got a full ride to graduate school, your best friend landed her dream job in New York City, and you can't seem to find an opportunity that even looks decent. It doesn't matter! Your path isn't theirs, and usually the best things in life come unexpectedly. Chances are that an opportunity will surprise you when you least expect it, and you'll be even more grateful since you know how stressful the search can be. And if you end up taking time off before jumping into the next opportunity, you'll learn more about yourself and what you really want. Either way your journey will be incredible and, most importantly, it will be uniquely yours.
3. Make time for friends.
4. Don't date just to date.
I've had several people tell me that I'd better start searching for my soulmate because the clock is ticking and after I leave college it'll be so much harder to find a significant other. This can be discouraging, but good news - it's not true! There's no reason to throw yourself at someone out of desperation when there are plenty of wonderful people in the world NOT living on your campus. Bottom line -- don't waste time or ruin friendships trying to ensure you have someone by your side as you face life after college. Because even if you leave undergrad single, you are most definitely not alone! You'll have the friends who've been there all along, the family and mentors who have supported you, and the promise of new relationships waiting to begin as you start your next adventure.
5. Take chances.
This is YOUR senior year, so be spontaneous! Finish your college bucket list, and make sure you have no regrets when you walk across that stage. This also applies to your professional life -- the only way to guarantee you don't get the job or graduate program that seems out of reach is to never apply for it. So even if something seems way out of your league, give it a shot. You might be what they're looking for, and if not, at least you have the experience of applying which will make you more prepared for your next opportunity.
6. Reach out.
Lastly, remember that you're not going through any of this alone. Your classmates are a huge resource, so make sure you ask what other people are doing to get ideas and make connections in your field. Schedule meetings and ask for help from your professors and career services staff, because these people have invested in you and truly want to see you succeed. Even when life seems most overwhelming, just remember that everyone in your class is going through this process too!
So to the Class of 2017, this is going to be the best year yet. Not because we're always going to succeed, but because we know where we've come from and we recognize the value of our achievements. And whatever the future holds for all of us, we don't have to be afraid because we'll face it together.
