As the school year comes to a close and this year's seniors graduate, that means one thing: many people are soon discovering what the real world is like, and a new group of people will now be seniors. While this may sound appealing and lustrous, I will tell you, it certainly is not.
I have often looked forward to my senior year. Now that I am finished with my junior year and am technically a senior, I am not excited whatsoever. While being a senior sure has its perks, there are several cons that I have thought of while wondering where the time has gone.
Student loan debt
Student loan debt didn't seem real before. Now that I am going to be a senior, there is nowhere to hide from the looming debt that I will have racked up over four years in college. Trust me, it seems like it is just a number, but when you realize you are going to have to start paying it off soon, it is absolutely terrifying.
You don't know anyone
Once you become an upperclassman, you usually move into an apartment or a house. While this is an awesome experience and is far better than living in a dorm, you lose contact with a lot of people. This means that you may show up to a social event and know maybe two out of the thirty people there. If you are an introverted person, this may not bother you whatsoever. As someone who thrives on social activity, I absolutely hate this.
Worrying about your future
When I first went to college, I thought it was going to last forever. Four years seemed long and daunting, but at the same time a very pleasant change. Now as a Senior, I have to worry about what the hell I'm actually going to do with the degree I've been working towards; and let me tell you, I have absolutely no clue. Combine this with knowing that you need to find a solid source of income, along with having $40,000 of debt weighing over your head like a guillotine...you get the picture.
Preparing for the future
While in college, it is easy to forget the fact that once you graduate you have to be a functioning part of society. This often means needing to do many things to prepare for said future. If you decide you need, or want, to go to grad school, you have to begin preparing for this. Deciding to do this involves lengthy application processes and entrance exams that cost a lot of money. You also realize that you might want to start saving up money in case you, surprisingly (sarcasm), don't get a job. This means no extravagant Thursday nights, and it also means you can't buy ridiculous things late at night on Amazon.
Stress
Senior year, while having many perks, sadly means a lot of stress. This is the year where you realize that the fun ride called college is almost over. Your classes are often difficult, you have lengthy projects to worry about, and for some, you need to try really hard to just graduate. All of these things combine for a very stressful year of trying to figure out what in the world you are going to do with your life. College isn't like the real world, but we all have to begin to prepare for it. Trying to figure out how you will acclimate to the real world is a daunting task that isn't going to be fun to do.
While I am excited for my senior year, I am also terrified of what it may bring. Thinking about the fact that I will soon need to grow up and be an adult isn't what I want to do, but, it is something we all must do at some point.
"Stay here. Stay here as long as you can. For the love of God, cherish it. You have to cherish it." - Billy Madison
