Well, congratulations! You are now a college senior, and in the next year you will enter into the "real world" or graduate school. Whether your college years have been the best years of your life, or the time for some serious self-reflection and learning, we are all getting old together. Like many of you, I have loved my time at Mercer and would not trade this experience for the world. However, it's nearly time to create another chapter in your book titled Life (unless you have something cooler like Sammy D's Spectacular Stories), and it is time to venture down a rather terrifying and unfamiliar road.
But you still have some time left to enjoy being a college student, and along the way, you will definitely begin to reflect on your time here. While reflecting, here are some things I think every college senior has thought at least once:
1. Where has the time gone?
My memory is absolutely terrible, but I still remember moving into Plunkett Hall in the pouring rain my freshman year. I remember Mom making the room looked nice for Jeremy and me, while complaining that the bed will never be made again. I remember hugging mom as she got in the car to go home and left me to start my college chapter. I held back a tear while watching her leave the room. I also remember sophomore year when I moved in, turned around, and Mom was halfway home already! Funny how things progress. I felt pretty sad when I no longer felt the jitters and worries of starting a new year. I am just used to it now, I suppose. Seriously, where has the time gone?
2. What's next?
As a senior in college, I thought I would have my whole life planned out, and a clear path to my career. Nope. I just now have tougher questions to answer and more things to think about. Grad school? Work? Go to the mountains and become a lumber jack? All of those answers are a solid maybe. Truthfully, I have absolutely no clue yet, and that is okay. Somehow, it will work out, and I know God has my back. So seniors: what's next? Take your time to figure that out, and remember nothing ever has to be permanent. Although you are becoming ancient at the age of 21 or 22, you have a lot of time left. You've got this!
3. Why do my knees pop so dang much?
If your like me, when you wake up your knees and feet are popping so much, you could actually freestyle with the beat! I wake up feeling like a boss because my knees are dropping this sick beat! However, in the library I do get some strange looks because it sounds like I am stepping on balloons as I walk around. Maybe this thought is just for me, so if you see me (or hear me) around campus, just know I'm really sorry for my sick beats.
4. Why do these first-year students look so young?
Well, either they are really young, or we are just really old! Granted I couldn't grow a beard until (debatedly) the end of freshman year, I still never thought I looked this young! But wait, I say this and then some 6'4" offensive lineman with an entire bear on his face walks past me. He can be an exception. The underlying theme is that us seniors are turning into senior citizens and will likely need scooters to ride across campus by the end of the semester! One thing to remember is that these students are also the future of your University, and need as much guidance as you did when you were a freshman. Reach out, be a mentor, be a friend, and remember that ONLY 4 years ago, you were in their position.
5. I still miss my dogs when I am at school.
Yes, I believe if you have done college correctly, it will become your home. However, I will always miss my dogs when I am away from them. Whether you're a dog person, a cat person, a fish person, a bird person, or a hampster person, it is nearly impossible to not miss your animals while you are at school. My mom always complains that I miss Roxie and Andy more than her when I'm at Mercer. Sorry mom. Just kidding, I miss you all equally, I promise! Long story short, whether you are a freshman or a senior, you will miss your animals while you're away at school. It's practically inevitable.
6. Yeah, I am going to bed at 10! So what?
Listen, as a senior we are constantly tired. I truthfully do not think it ends, so it's okay to tell the younger ones that you are going to bed! There have been many nights where I just want to lay in bed and watch the games going on, and that is completely fine! It doesn't make you lame or rude, it just makes you an average college senior!
7. Look how far I've come.
If you haven't thought about this yet, take a minute to see what you have accomplished. You are a college senior and, although you may be exhausted, you are alive and are about to graduate. You have to realize that you are about to enter a world that is hurting and damaged, and you have the chance to make an impact. You have the chance to be a hero to this world, and the people in it. Remember freshman year (and really sophomore and junior year, too) when you made those stupid mistakes that really put a damper on your life? Look at you now. You have made it through the hardships and over the hills. You have made it past the "worst test of your life" and have surpassed it that one class that you dreaded waking up for. You have lost those "friends" and gained some real ones. You have made memories and have stayed up too late. You have eaten terribly and not had one care in the world about it. You have cried, you have laughed, you have smiled, and you have made someone's day that you did not even know about. The key words here are: YOU MADE IT.
I know it is hard to not worry about the future, but you are prepared and you will make it. Hopefully, as you read this you were able to reflect back on the past three years, and you remembered some things that made you laugh, and maybe even cry. That's okay, you let that out! While remembering your college years, also remember how lucky you are to call yourself a senior. I pray for my school, my family, and my mentors because they have allowed me to find my home. Never forget how lucky we are to be able to call ourselves future college graduates. Never forget your roots.
So college senior, good luck. You are old, but with age comes wisdom, and you have some valuable experiences to look back on. Go out into that dark and scary place known as the "real world" and make a difference. You have the power to do anything as long as you have the drive, the grind, and the compassion to make it happen.
Go get em', you've got this.
Go Bears.
