The last first day of school is upon us. This day can mean a lot of different things to many different people. It is another stepping stone or sometimes even another ladder to climb. Regardless of one's triumphs and struggles, the last first day of college is there to represent all that you've already worked for and the fact that one more push is all that's left. However, arriving on campus during that last first day doesn't define what you'll do this year and it won't define what you do next year. Most of us reach our senior year and are ready to finish school. We don't jump out of bed full of excitement anymore like we did our first term of Freshman year, but we're also terrified of leaving school and moving on to the next chapter in our life.
The last first day of school should mark the beginning of a year in which you shouldn't worry about how well you do. It should be about how you choose to do things, who you choose to connect with, and how you choose to learn about yourself and others, your goals, your desires, and your surroundings. As college seniors we tend to panic about the future, whether we're applying to more schools or jobs, and even when we can't handle the idea that we are graduating soon and need to figure out what we want to do or where we want to go.
If there is anything I've learned from my adventures in college during the last few years, it's that the panic and the worries tend to go away when you find the way to take your time. Now, sometimes that isn't easy and everything that's in front of you comes in the form of blinders and all you see are grades and more applications. We all know we usually end up cramming and procrastinating half the time anyways. Then, all you feel is the stress over what your life will be after college and it might drive you a little nuts. Yet, you have to take a moment to breathe. Get out of your comfort zone and try new things. Step into the year knowing what you want to accomplish and do what you can to finish the year knowing that you've done everything you can.
The most important thing is to learn how to actually live through your last year of college, rather than crawling through it. It doesn't mean everything in your life needs be in order....it actually might feel like a whirlwind of chaos for a while. In the end, the only thing that might keep you sane is the fact that there's still another year full of classes, a lot of sleepless nights, endless cups of coffee, and a few more papers to write.
