April is the one month mark to college graduation, God help us. We seniors have been running a metaphorical marathon for the past four (or five) years, and right now we have cramped calves, major dehydration, and a very real urge to fall on the ground and cry. Unfortunately, this is also the time of year where major projects, 30 page papers, and intense capstone assignments are looming, as the spring air urges us to shirk responsibly and frolic in the grass. (Can you tell I'm an English major?) Anyway, here are some of my last month of college woes I'm sure you're suffering from, as well.
1. Going to class
Anything can impede my class attendance. If it's raining, I don't wanna go. If it's snowing, I don't wanna go. Hell, if it's sunny, I don't wanna go. If the teacher doesn't take attendance, if I don't have anything due, if there's a new episode of Scandal… the list goes on. To put it simply, I just DGAF. Someone make me GAF. I cannot do it.
2. Not sleeping 20 hours a day
I truly believe my bed has a gravitational pull on me. We are in a serious relationship, my bed and I. A lot of days I actually roll out of bed and onto the floor, where I stay for another 5 minutes. When I finally pull it together and stand up, I probably have 10 minutes to get to class, so I roll in looking both homeless and hungover. Win-win.
3. Allotting time for friends you'll probably never see again
Every acquaintance you've ever made in college is most likely going to want to catch up with you before you graduate. This means lots of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and coffee dates. Make sure to budget this into your month, because you'll look like a douche if you blow anyone off.
4. Not drinking on week nights
Right, so you go out for “a marg" with your friends on a Tuesday. This turns into 2 margs. Then 4. Then you're sitting in the booth laughing about the time you fell down the stairs at a frat house, and then it's 2 AM. The morning comes. You are hungover, leading to an imminent excuse to skip class.
5. Trying to find a job so people stop pestering you
As every day passes, I see more and more of my Facebook friends gloating about their cushy new jobs that start, like, the day after graduation and pay 100k a year. Congrats, show-off. For those of us who are either too lazy to apply for jobs or just generally unlucky, the looming graduation date is making us sweat unhealthy amounts.
6. Not getting emotional every 10 seconds
I consider myself a rather sentimental person, so certain triggers just make me start crying for no reason. For example, last week I was simply walking to class, enjoying the campus, and all of a sudden my brain just decided to scream: YOU ONLY HAVE 30 DAYS LEFT HERE. Nostalgia is a real kicker, guys. Keep tissues handy.
7. Avoiding Laziness
This goes hand in hand with skipping class. Over the past month, I've watched so many seasons of shows - Scandal, Breaking Bad, The Office, you name it. In the back of my head I know I should be writing a VERY IMPORTANT capstone paper, but Dwight just makes me laugh too much to care.
8. Trying not to spiral into anxiety about the future
It's one thing to stress about a job, but the few years right after college are a major mental adjustment - you will probably move, lose contact with friends, miss your mommy, and start a new life. It's insanely difficult not to curl up in a ball and rock bath and forth, attempting to calm yourself.
9. Not OD-ing on caffeine
We all have our poison - some people love energy drinks, others tea, but mine is coffee. I stop at 7/11 every morning before class, so consistently that, at this point, the cashier knows my name. If you expect me to attend class, I need a caffeine IV to get me there.
10. Attempting to enjoy every moment, and celebrating your major milestone
Senior year has seriously felt like a week to me - I start the fall semester, I blink, and bam, I already have my cap and gown. This last month might be crazy stressful, yes, but try your hardest to enjoy every moment you can, because college is one hell of a ride.
