As I enter my last quarter at Northwestern, I have a lot of mixed emotions. I'm really excited for all that this quarter has to offer: I'm only taking one class so I'll have lots of free time, I'm excited about the soon-to-be warmth that will (hopefully) be coming to Chicago soon, and I can't wait to spend time with my friends in the next few months. Post-graduation is exciting, because I now know where I'll be working and am excited to start the new chapter of my life. But, I'm also terrified to leave school, and to leave everything I know.

On move in day my freshman year, my dad told me to "Enjoy these next four years, because they go by in the blink of an eye." My brain believed him, but my emotions felt like college was stretching out ahead of me into eternity. Seniors back then seemed so old, so put together. They were graduating in a few months! They must have their lives in order! At the very least, they must be very adult. But man was I wrong. Yes, I do feel much more grown up than I did as an eighteen-year-old, but I still feel like I have a lot to figure out. I definitely don't have my life in total order, and I definitely do not feel like a "real adult." (That's one of my favorite terms that college students use. We can't just say "adult," because we're technically adults too, but there's a definite distinction between us and those who are out of school and in the real world).

So I've decided to make the best of my last quarter on campus. I'm going to try to do all the things I've always said I wanted to, like paint the rock (or a rock on the lake fill). I'm going to go to all the fun plays and events that I've always said I would, and try out new clubs and spend more time in Chicago. Plus, I'm going to spend as much time with my friends as possible. At least, I'm going to try to. These things always have a weird way of not playing out like I think they will.

But you know what? Even if I don't do half the things I'm planning to, I think it will still be a great quarter. How couldn't it be, when I have so many options?

So, as I head into my last quarter, I just want to say thank you, Northwestern, for giving me a great (nearly) four years. Thank you for providing me with the opportunities to grow both academically and socially, and allowing me to do so in the beautiful environment of campus. If I could do it all over again, I don't think I'd change a thing.