After completing two years of college, I am excited for what my future holds. But then I realize that reality is starting to hit and I will be graduating soon.
When I was a freshman, I thought that I always had all the time in the world to figure out what I want to do. I also felt that if I made a mistake, I would bounce back easily. But now is the time to focus on facing the real world and become a mature adult. Here are the few things that suddenly hit me as I enter my junior year of college.
1. All of the drama is unnecessary at this point.
It's really not worth it. You may be having problems right now, but at the end of the day, it's only 4 years. Don't let just 4 years of drama ruin 80+ years of your life. Drop them if they're holding you back. You'll get over it. Be happy that you guys graduated with the same degree, but you're working a corporate job and they're making your burrito bowl at Chipotle at 30. Plus, you're probably never going to see them again if you live in another state, so you're good sis!
2. INTERNSHIPS! INTERNSHIPS! INTERNSHIPS!
I cannot stress this enough. The purpose of college is to get a successful job. Even if the internship isn't in your field, they can help you gain knowledge and hopefully refer you to the field that you want to be in. It's all about networking. You're not going to survive if you don't talk to people. If that internship likes you enough, you might land the job once you graduate.
3. You can't live in on-campus dorms anymore
Unless you're an RA, you're getting the boot. My school offers on-campus apartments which are amazing because I can still feel connected to campus. It's more expensive, but I'd rather be in the loop. I have a car, but the parking at my school is so ridiculous, you might as well walk.
4. Your circle will get smaller and smaller, and that's a good thing.
Like I said in the first point, drop whoever gives you negative vibes because I promise you will never have to deal with them again. Only keep people who you know you're going to talk to after graduating, or people who you can see at your wedding and going to each other's cookouts. The friends who are reading this know that our kids will be huddling together, tired of our mess.
5. If you want to get a master's degree or go to law/medical school, start looking at schools now!
Act like it's high school and you're looking at colleges. I started looking for junior year, then applied senior year. And for college, I'm highly interested in going to graduate school, so now is the time to start visiting and giving myself options.
6. If you're in a relationship, now's the time to discuss life after graduating.
Especially if one of you lives out-of-state. You guys have to start with the long-distance conversation real soon, or it's not going to work out. If you are planning on breaking up, then that's fine; you just need to be prepared. You may think you have all the time in college, but in real life, you guys are miserable because none of you are free.
7. You'll be officially legal enough to do whatever you want.
Because when you're 21, you can do pretty much anything (or things you haven't done already, if you know what I mean).
8. You should be taking classes only within your major.
If you're still taking general education classes as a junior or senior, you're probably going to stay a little while. You should have gotten that done by junior year, sis. You should only be focusing on your major at this point.
9. Realizing that you're one of the older kids now.
A 20-year-old looking at someone who is 17 and realizing that you used to feel the same way when you were a freshman.
10. That college isn't as bad as you think.
Despite complaining how broke you are, how many times people piss you off, complain about your workload and getting tired of bursar, you realize that college is the best 4 years of your life and you'll always miss it when you leave.
man running in forestPhoto by 
