It’s finals week, and on top of all the stress about papers and deadlines and final projects, we sometimes tend to forget that these are our last moments at our favorite place before we go home for three months. I know at least for me, I work hard through exams in order to get them done and relieve my stress, but then I remember that also means leaving Elon and my friends and some of the best times I have.

In middle school and high school, I could not wait for the year to end. I wanted summer to start. I wanted the nights to be longer and the weather to get warmer. I mean I would still see my friends because we all lived in the same town. I just wouldn’t have to worry about tests or assignments or waking up at 7:30 a.m. for school. However, now at school, it is much more bittersweet when summer comes rolling around. And I don’t want the year to end.

This summer especially is going to be a change for me especially since some of my close friends are going to be abroad or interning in cities out of state. So really we won’t all be together again for a while unless it’s for holidays or random weeks of the summer in between summer plans and going back to school. As juniors, it is very common for us to go abroad either in the fall or spring. People go abroad during different semesters so really we aren’t all together again until senior year. And then only two more semesters left and then… the real world.

This year my finals end on Saturday and I’m not leaving until Wednesday. I wanted to take time to reflect on my year, have time to say my final goodbyes, and fully take in that after this year things will change. It was hard for me to adjust last year at the end of freshman year because it was so good. And things changed a lot sophomore year, but they were just as good and I finally was able to realize that change was okay.

Things are going to change and you are going to change and it’s not a bad thing if you aren’t best friends with the people you used to be or have the same passions you used to have. I learned a lot about this sophomore year. I now know it is okay to do things that make me happy even if everyone doesn’t agree. However, it is important to value your friends’ opinions and advice because they really do have your best interest in mind.

By the time I leave Elon for the year, the campus may be dead, and everyone may be back home, but I don’t mind being the last one here in my favorite place.