To everyone going into their last semester of college:

First of all, congratulations! Pat yourself on the back because not only did you make it into college, but you've also succeeded, and now you’re finishing.

Now, if you are anything like me, you’re dreading the all-powerful graduation or “G” day in May that we all know is coming and we cannot avoid (unless you fail a class and stay in college forever but I don’t suggest that). Remember, there is still time left. It’s what we do leading up to the dreaded “G” day that really counts.

Over the past three and a half years you’ve met so many people who have had an impact on your life. You’ve made so many amazing friends, that whether you know it or not, have played a part in your growing up over these three and a half years. You are not the scared anxious 18-year-old who moved into that freshman dorm anymore. You have to cherish every moment you have with these people in your life while you still have the chance to see them every day, even the little ones. Especially the little moments like when you get your morning coffee at your favorite little place on campus, or when you run into one of your friends on campus and you both laugh about things that happened the night before.

Do the things you and your gang have been saying you’ve wanted to do since freshman year. Don’t just keep waiting to do things like go to the basketball game covered in face paint even if the team sucks, or going rollerblading at the weird roller rink on the other side of town with everyone. Just do it. Don’t stay in on a Friday night because it’s really cold out and you’re tired. You can stay in on a Friday in five months when you don’t have a group of wild goons always ready to party with you. Put on the outfit that makes you feel like a million bucks, turn up your favorite song and dance it out with your best friends while drinking cheap beer.

Of course college is for getting a degree in whatever you choose to do with your life, so yes, class is still important. Just because you’re a senior doesn’t mean you get to skip every day even though you want to. Class is important and so are your grades, but you have to relax. Stress is the last thing you need ruining your final time left at school. Yeah, we are college students so stress is going to happen no matter what. Whether it is friend drama, school stress, job/money stress, or love or relationship stress we’re all bound to have it. However, we cannot let it control our days.

Entering this final semester, wake up every day and smile at yourself in the mirror, even if you’re hung over and you have a huge test you have barely studied for. Go to the day party when it finally starts to feel like spring and you can’t help but be the stereotypical college kid throwing a frisbee and laying out on the lawn with your friends. Snuggle up with all your friends on the cold snowy or rainy days with five bottles of wine and all the chips you can buy while binge-watching Netflix. Go bowling on that random Wednesday night with all your friends and laugh at how bad you all are.

And take tons of pictures because these are the moments you’re going to want to remember and cherish, with the people who got you through the craziest hardest but best three and a half years of your life. Enjoy this final semester and live it up.