The seniors at Seattle University are just six weeks away from graduation. I wouldn't have been able to type that up without my fingers trembling had I been a senior. As a junior, what's nerve wracking is not the steady approach of graduation, rather the fact that in a few months, I'll officially be adopting the "senior" title at SU.
The phrase, "Can you believe we're about to be seniors?" is being thrown around daily, provoking a range of emotions. Whether that's a sudden confidence boost or a surge of aching nerves, I wanted to remind my class that downing a double shot espresso at Cafe Vita is not the only way to get the ball rolling for the coming school year.
Here is advice, specifically addressed to the juniors, from our very own seniors. The list is sorted by major (alphabetical order) and by no means covers all the advice I received upon asking for tips for the coming year, so I suggest reaching out to fellow senior friends as well!
Biochemistry
Nick Chock: If there are things that you haven't done, make a list and do them before you leave! Don't regret not doing them.
Computer Science
Erik Thorne: Today is the first day of the rest of your life. But so was yesterday, and so is tomorrow, so today is really no different. Graduating doesn’t change anything that you don’t want it to, so just be cool.
English/Creative Writing.
Christian Menendez: "Experience your experiences and expand," said by Brendan Busse, SJ, an inspirational and profound professor that I had the pleasure of knowing for his brief time at Seattle U. The quote reminds me to go through life open to every experience that comes my way, as uncomfortable or painful as they might be in the moment, and grow as a person each day from every one of these experiences.
Katie Rounds: Have faith in yourself and your abilities, trust your gut to steer you in the right direction, particularly when it comes to post-grad qualms. Let your heart and mind be your compass. The end of college might be near, but the beginning of the rest of your life is upon you, and that's pretty damn exciting.
Chloe Traynor: Academically, trust in the creative thinking and unique skill-set you've developed over the years. Utilize your talents without being ashamed of them. The first two/three years of college left me questioning the merit of my degree and major, worrying about the philanthropic value of studying books and poetry, and all that other amazing existential dread. Instead, see that your work is becoming realized and that you've come far and learned much, much about yourself, too. Socially, enjoy your friends and your time together in a shared space. By the end of your senior year, the reality that everyone is dispersing and moving into new phases of their lives (which often take them away from Seattle) becomes an authentically harrowing actualization.
Spend time with friends, don't sweat the small stuff. Emotionally, prepare for an odd feeling of transition/ liminal angst. While senior year feels like it's the end you've been long looking forward to, it can occasionally feel like a daunting gap between college antics and a different kind of adulthood. I guess just embrace the transition, enjoy the times where you can have fun and the times where you have to put your fancy-pants on.
Humanities for Leadership Studies
Mara Silvers: Allow yourself to question this school, this culture, and your experiences so far. Get critical and exact and serious. Know that you will go on, probably much happier, if you can critically examine your life.
Mechanical Engineering
Jeff Derenthal: Make sure to develop your writing and presenting skills, they're just as important as your technical skills!
Music
Daniel Berry: Make sure you are challenging yourself. I don't mean with classes, but with everything else you do. Challenge what you think about yourself and challenge the boundaries of your comfort zone.
Nursing
Anonymous: Don't waste time with people or things that you don't truly enjoy. You'll be graduating before you know it so make time for what's good for you and where you're called to. Enjoy your last year and don't let the world freak you out when you get asked every day what you'll do after graduation. You'll figure it out, eventually, and everything will be fine.
Emily Martin: The biggest piece of advice I have is self care. It's totally underrated and so so important.
Political Science
Manuel Sigüenza (also a Spanish major): Enjoy the moment while preparing for what lies ahead. A balance of the two is essential to maintain perspective of another transition in life.
Psychology
Rachel Young (also a Visual Arts major): I think something I wish I had figured out sooner was that friendships don’t just “happen.” Like any other type of relationship, friendships takes work too. I mean, this goes for friendships in general, but especially in your senior year when college and work and everything gets a little closer to “adulthood” status. I feel like the quickest way to watch your friendships fade or become less satisfying is to be complacent in your relationships with the people who have been with you for a while now. Be intentional and invested! Don’t be complacent!
Public Affairs
Christina Nguyen (also Communications major): Try and be OK with not finding a job. You're definitely not the only one.
SPEX
Innis McComb (also an English major): My advice would be don't expect to know what you want to do when you leave college. Follow your passions.
