The month of May is the busiest time of the year for both college freshmen and high school seniors. Yet, looking back as I finish my freshman year of college, there are definitely some differences between this May and last May.

As a high school senior, the first two weeks in May were crammed with AP and IB exams. In between study sessions and classes, you and your friends are putting the final touches on your prom looks and deciding if you were getting to prom in a limo or in your mom’s minivan. Most nights are filled with senior award ceremonies, spending time with your family, and picking out the cutest bed set for your dorm room.

As a college freshman, you’re making your way through the most stressful and demanding time of your life—it’s final exam season! While Last Weekend may or may not have taken some of that stress away, you’re running from class to the library to work and so on. In between those crash study sessions in your friend’s room, you’re slowly taking the photos off your dorm room walls and calling your parents to bring as many cardboard boxes and cars as possible. You’re still trying to figure out how you got all of your stuff here in August.

As a high school senior, graduation is right around the corner. You spend classes scrolling through Pinterest, trying to find the best way to decorate your graduation cap. You are planning a summer filled with memories that will you last you through your first year at college. Or maybe you are longing for something new, wishing that Move-In Day would come before graduation day.

As a college freshman, finals are finally over-- you’re going home for the summer! Over three months of not having to login into your university account await you. Maybe you plan on spending everyday reuniting with your high school friends. Maybe you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to make it through everyday, let alone the summer, without seeing your college friends. Maybe you’re working your butt off or you’re setting off on that study abroad trip you’ve been waiting for since October.

It's really interesting to look back and see how much things have changed from last May to this May. Whether you’re a college freshman or a high school senior, May is going to be filled with new experiences and memories. Remember to take some time for yourself and reflect on all the changes going on in your life because at least for me, it’s going to fly by.