First of all… it is okay.

Whether you transferred schools, changed your major, or just had a little too much fun and not enough school those first couple semesters, it’s okay. As corny as it sounds, attending college is about so much more than merely getting through it, it’s about the experience, and yours just isn’t over just yet. College is the time in life when we are supposed to learn and do all we can before entering the adult world, and sometimes this journey doesn’t fit into a four-year time table. So, although it can be painful watching your friends, some of whom you may have started this journey with four short years ago, prepare to walk across that stage without you, please remember this. You are not alone.

Everyone’s path is different and there are so many people, at least one of whom you are probably friends with, who are in the same boat as you. So make sure to spend time with the friends who are lucky enough to be here with you for your extra time. In addition to your fellow super seniors close by, I’m sure if we all took the time to look up all the people we graduated high school with, you know the ones we promised to keep in touch with secretly knew we never would, you would find others who are in the same position you are. Let’s be honest, college is the last time in life when it is acceptable to do things like blow off a class or two because you are too hungover to get out of bed on a Tuesday.

Appreciate the fact that you have a little more time to sleep in till noon, as long as you can avoid those morning classes, and have a party on a Monday just because it's Monday before you have to enter the working world. So, while our friends who are graduating are spending these last four months stressing about things such as, finding a job and becoming a real functioning adult, we can relish in the fact that we still have a little more time left in school and a lot more memories to make. Everyone says that college goes by so fast, and it does.

I literally remember my roommate and I cutting out neon paper decorations and setting up the black light in our freshmen dorm, we had big dreams of hosting a black light pregame, like it was yesterday. So, to all my fellow people out there who will be taking their victory lap next fall, appreciate the extra time you have and good luck on the rest of your journey.