If you're anything like me, you feel extremely panicky whenever you remember that your first day of school this fall will be your last. People have always warned me that my college years would fly by, and, my God, they weren't lying. Our whole lives so far have been leading up to graduation, so it’s hard to grasp that it’s only one year away. Although this can be a scary time, it’s a reminder to enjoy the last year as college students and look forward to what the ‘real world’ has in store – which hopefully is a job.

Before we decide to stretch out our credits for a fifth-year victory lap, let’s remind ourselves of the good things that post-college life brings.

So, we’re approaching our last year of undergrad and possibly school altogether. This might not be as bad as we think. One thing we know for certain is graduating means no more staying at the library so long your neck is sore, dealing with useless group project members or going to office hours.

Receiving a degree also promises that we will no longer have to take electives or university program courses that we have absolutely no interest in. Hallelujah! Instead of heading to a geography class to learn about cloud formations, we will hopefully be doing something we're actually passionate about (my bad if you’re a Geo major).

The goal after graduation is obviously to land a job. The best part about getting a job will be finally making money. Fellow unpaid internship students out there can agree that this will be a long awaited point in life for us. I imagine that being rewarded for your hard work with money is going to be a pretty good feeling. We will finally be able to order guac for extra without any hesitation. That’s when you know you’ve made it.

Now here’s the part about going into my last year of college that isn’t sitting well with me. In my opinion, the best part of college is the people around you. If you’re lucky enough to find best friends in college, it’s going to make knowing this is your final year a little harder. Realizing that this could be the last time you're in the same city as your college friends is a harsh reality, and I for one have been ignoring the thought. After graduation, we’ll of course keep in touch with some friends, but we will all start making new friends from work and the new cities we’re in. On one hand, it’s exciting to think about a new adventure in a new city and a first job. At the same time, I don’t want to leave my friends and have to make new ones, as selfish as that sounds. This is the part I wish we could keep as is. It would be a beautiful thing if we could just enter the next phase after college with the same friends and lifestyle.

Something I feel like I’ve taken for granted during my college years is the ability to create my own schedule. Being able to have class no earlier than 10 a.m. most semesters is a blessing and something I will desperately miss. But as we all know, there’s more to life than classes when living in a college town. Living in a house packed with your best friends, going to early morning tailgates, and having the option to go out any night of the week just aren’t things you could find anywhere else but college. Keep in mind this could also be the last year we can go out during the week without being judged. But thank God the ‘real world’ has happy hour, am I right?

When I think about this being my last year, the one word that comes to mind is bittersweet. I think I’m ready to be an adult in the working world while wanting absolutely nothing to do with it at the same time. Leaving college friends and our college town will be anything but easy, but it’s kind of exciting not knowing where life will take us next. In the meantime, be with friends every chance you get, never turn down a night out, and enjoy every second of your last year as a college student.