School is back in session across the globe, and there is a whole new population of seniors taking their last plunge into the undergraduate life. I get it. It’s our last year living in what is essentially not real life. No bills, no jobs no problems. Am I right? Getting our last days of hanging with our best friends, making time for t-shirts from KOK on Thursdays and just having a pure reluctance to starting that homework due in the afternoon pretty much sums up the senior mindset.

Although one of our biggest concerns is “where am I going to work after graduation,” we somehow find other activities to substitute for this. Just for the time being, ya know? #Priorities. In all fairness, there is recognition that at some point applications need to be submitted, so that’s what matters here. The job search also becomes a main reason that homework takes a back seat on particular days.

The feeling almost becomes nostalgic as we think back on our high school senior days. Rolling out of bed to somehow make it to class 10 minutes later. Never failing to put in minimal effort although expecting grand outcomes. In some ways, we are all in the same position now as we were in high school. Then, we were applying for colleges and now we’re applying for real people jobs. The fairytale world is coming to an end, my friends! This I cannot accept.

I don’t know about everyone else, but it just started to hit me that summer ’15 was the last summer of freedom. Not to be a Debbie downer, but from this point on we’ll likely be working summers (excluding teachers obvi). This doesn’t mean our lives are completely gone, but five work days in the office might be a tad different than 5 work days of lifeguarding.

We start to remember about when were freshmen and how everyone always told us to enjoy every moment of it, although that line has resurfaced with force since becoming a senior. No one really could even internalize it because in al honesty you don’t know the feeling they are talking about until you become a senior. Now that we’ve made it almost a full four years, it seems like the last three happened in about 1.5 seconds. The years no blur together, but you still feel like you had a great time.

I’m here to tell you, it’s okay. Senioritis is normal and more common than you’d anticipate. The struggle is real, but you’re not alone. Know that there is an entire population of us out there ready to support a fellow struggler because in the end, we are leaving with a college education. We are all capable and ready for the workforce, grad school or wherever life takes us despite the occasional senioritis slip-ups. May your KOK t-shirts be plentiful and your essays be short!