Senior year. Legally of age. Almost done with college. Ready to head into the real world. Job applications. Goodbyes. Scary.

As a graduating senior, leaving in December, I imagined my final semester a certain way. I imagined taking only a few easy classes, not worrying as much about academics, and instead focusing on my final few months as a college student. I wanted to take in all of the various experiences that I could before that December day where I walk across a stage.

We're about a month into the fall semester at this point, and I've spent more time working than I ever planned. I wanted to party and hang out with my friends all the time, take road trips and make so many memories. But I have begun to realize how truly difficult it is to get away from the workload. No matter what "easy" classes you take, there is always effort required and things to do. The first three years of college were not a walk in the park, so why would the final semester be any easier than those before?

There are so many things that have to be done before graduation. Applying for a degree, finishing courses, applying for jobs, etc... the list never ends. But there are also a thousand things that we all want to do before we leave our college town.

We want to experience that last night on the town with our girlfriends. We want to laugh until we cry and sob over leaving each other in a few short months. We want to reminisce about things we used to do and stupid decisions we made. We want to cherish our final months together before we go our separate ways.

I imagined my final semester so many ways. I imagined letting go and caring less. But the opposite actually happened. I am working harder than ever before in my studies and perfecting my job application materials. I am spending more time sleeping and setting a schedule than I am partying. I am spending more time on myself than with others, which is extremely bizarre for my extroverted self.

We all imagine our college experiences going a certain way. More often than not, God has another plan in mind. So don't fret when things don't go as planned. Don't shut down when things get confusing and scary. Embrace the newness of things and the beginning of the end, if you're a senior, and love every second of it before it's gone.