We did it! Well, sort of. Our final year of college has finally arrived, syllabus week is over, labor day has been celebrated, and we did it. We made it here so that counts enough. Right?
In all the hype and stress of our final year, postgrad plans, social obligations, and general juggling of all things adult, sometimes we forget to be STOKED that we have made it to this point. This is such a big accomplishment. We have navigated the terrifyingly stressful landscape of college life, somehow managing to learn a ton and make some friendships that will last a lifetime. Sure, we may have made some mistakes along the way (jungle juice is never your friend), but hey, that's life right?
We have to make the best of what little time we have left before we swan dive (maybe belly flop?) into the real world. Make time for friends and let loose every so often this year to shake off the stress of our impending doom and never forget #collegerules. In order to truly live it up in celebration of our culminating senior experience and a year of many lasts, here is a bucket list you must make sure to complete before the end of your time at your (soon-to-be) alma mater.
1. Take part in the most stereotypical college tradition your school has to offer.
Every school has a cheesy tradition that somehow gets passed down through the ages. Penn State has THON, University of Chicago has the Scavenger Hunt, Drake University has Drake Relays, Arizona State has the BB Run, Ohio State has the Mirror Lake Jump, etc. etc. etc. Whatever tradition your school has, make sure you take part in it this one last time (or maybe for the first time!)!
2. Take part in the *senior* tradition at your school.
Most schools, in addition, have a cool senior tradition to take part in. Cal Tech has a Ditch Day, Stanford does Full Moon on the Quad, and Pepperdine hosts Rock the Brock. Every school has some kind of amazing tradition reserved specifically for the seniors to take part in. Make this memory special and celebrate that you have finally made it to this moment.
3. Eat the most unhealthy meal you can imagine in the caf.
Remember freshmen year, when calories hardly crossed your mind? Let's go back to that day, just once. Pile up your plate with pizza, mac and cheese, ice cream pints, and those perfect curly fries from the caf that you have avoided like the plague. You're living your best life and being an adult means feeling guilty about diving into the junk food, so grub while you can.
4. Actually attend a lecture your school hosts.
Most schools host some pretty amazing lecture series, but students generally forgo attendance if it means they have more time to prep for that party at 10. Now that you officially feel old at parties, go see the lecture from the Holocaust survivor, or the jazz pro, or the random religious intellectual that is famous somewhere, and, therefore, has the right to talk at you for a few hours. Who knows, these lectures may even be truly impactful.
5. Stock up on apparel.
So, before you have to move into the realm world, make sure you get the latest and greatest apparel your school has rolled out. Even if, after this year, you pack away your apparel forever, eventually your vintage tee will be your kid's favorite thing to wear. Embrace shirts and gear that don't say alumni just yet.
6. Paint your face for a sports game.
If you aren't just FULL of school spirit, take at least one chance to get wild about your team and go wild. Paint your face, your body, tailgate, and get beligerent whe your team doesn't win. Part of college is about rooting on your team, so go hard and be loud and proud.
7. Become a regular at a local institution.
Whether it's the quaint coffee shop on main street, the diner on the corner, the late night burger joint, or the sketchy bar that overlooks fakes, become a regular and befriend the staff at a place that is notorious in your town. By the end of your time this year, you will have a place that you can come back to and be filled with nostalgia, which is really the whole point of being an alumni.
8. Relish every moment.
Remember, no matter how much fun you have and no matter how hard you work, this is the end of your time as an undergraduate. You have finally reached that point that seemed so far away as a freshman, and, if we are being honest, we are all scared shitless. Life is just around the riverbend and make sure you take the time to really soak in the whole thing one last time. We've been saving the best for last, Class of 2017.
