After graduating high school in 2012 conquering college in four years was the goal on my mind. Well after attending two years of community college, a semester of classes not transferring and adding on two minors it turn out it will take me a total of five years to cross that stage. As I watched the graduating class of 2016 receive their diplomas this past weekend it hit me in the audience that I am so thankful that I have another year as an undergrad. Of course I was not able to rejoice with excitement with my past high school and college friends through Facebook photos and graduation parties but deep down I know my time as an undergrad student is not over yet. Five years is definitely the new four when you actually think about it. It turns into that if you have student teaching, add a minor or two or have a mandatory semester internship you cannot do in the summer. the reality is that things happen but there is nothing wrong with spending some extra time in the classroom and gaining more experience in your future field of study.
Like I said above I watched my friends fill their social media with pictures of their decorated graduation caps, family photos and where they are headed next. I, on the other hand watched from afar planning on how I was going to make my cap all cute and planning where I should tell my parents to sit. When you look at the big picture fifth year seniors just have an additional year of taking advantage of student discounts, getting free stuff from campus events and another year of making amazing memories. So stop at your local Mexican restaurant and have a Margarita, its time to celebrate!
During this past weekend I would think about "What if I was graduating today". To be honest with you I would probably continue to waitress, scrapbook memories and watch a lot of Netflix until I figured out my next move within the next six months. This year I knew secretly there was no way I was crossing the stage this May but with knowing that it gave me a lot of extra time to come up with a variety of plans such as future GRE dates, applying to graduate school, networking to local jobs or taking an interest in various Graduate Assistant positions. I have learned that the greatest things come in time and that its okay not to finish in four years and to be honest it is totally not enough time.
Ask any past college graduate and they will tell you that they would do anything to have another year as a college student. Heck yeah, fifth year seniors are living the dream! We all have another year to be involved in campus organizations, have those late night study and wine sessions and gain more experience to give us the upper hand in twelve months when we enter the real world. So enjoy each day, do not look at five years of college in a negative way but take advantage of the additional opportunities that are headed your way. This is your victory lap so live it up.
