As my junior year of college came to an end, the impending end of my undergraduate college career came crashing down on me. The past three years have held so many experiences and lessons that I know I will carry with me for the rest of my life, yet I cannot help but worry about the future. These four years of college are supposed to be some of your best and help you figure out the kind of person you want to be, but what if I haven't completed a sufficient soul search? I can honestly say the future scares me, but I’m also incredibly excited about it. There are so many things I want to experience, and next year I have the opportunity to finish any last minute plans. Here is my senior year bucket list:
1. Dye my hair
While I’m no stranger to dyeing my hair - it's shifted from brown to blonde then back to brown - I’d like to try something out of the normal range of colors like a pastel. If you’re more bold than me, go for a neon color.
2. Go on a spontaneous road trip
I think everyone has the dream to go on a road trip with their closest friends. Texas is a huge state with so many different things to see and I don’t think I’ve seen even a quarter of the things this state has to offer. I want to travel to some of the most famous sites before I graduate.
3. Do something outside of my comfort zone
I am entirely a creature of habit. I eat the same thing at every restaurant, I drink the same thing everyday and I like doing things that I know I’ll enjoy. This is why I want to branch out and do something like riding the bull at Trophy Room.
4. Talk to strangers
Some of the most interesting people in the world are the people you brush by in restaurants, bars and even your classes. This last year of school I don’t want to miss out on any possible connections with the people surrounding me so I’m going to try and talk to everyone.
5. Get up early
I hate waking up in general, so the concept of getting up early is one that worries me. However, I know I should start doing it because rushing to class with wet hair is a look that should probably stop... I’m going to get up early at least three days a week to make myself look presentable.
6. Do a juice cleanse (for real)
I know I make fun of juice cleanses a lot but there’s no denying that there’s something beneficial of doing one. I probably won’t be able to last more than a week, but that should be enough time to cleanse whatever juice cleanses cleanse.
7. Write in a journal
"As Told By Ginger" really influenced this bucket list item, but I’ve heard from so many people that writing in a journal is a good way to reflect on your day and really get in touch with your feelings.
8. Enjoy breakfast
I hate breakfast foods. I truly do and I don’t have a reason as to why but I want to start enjoying breakfast. It’s supposedly the most important meal of the day so this next year I’m going to make it important to me.
9. Go and enjoy an SMU football game
It’s hot, almost no one goes, but they’re supposed to be fun. I get all dressed up to go to the boulevard so I might as well go to the game.
10. Do a scavenger hunt around Dallas
There are so many different ways to do this bucket list item but the one that sounds the most fun is Geocaching. I don’t personally know anyone that has done Dallas Geocaching but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to be great.
11. Have a movie marathon
There are so many weekends I wish I had the stamina to do a complete movie marathon and this year I’m going to. Whether it’s the complete "Harry Potter" or "Lord of the Rings" series, I’m going to spend one weekend watching them all.
12. Make time for my friends
I caught myself this past semester not making time for my friends and realizing that in a short year we might all head separate ways scares me more than I’d like to say. This year I want to make time for my friends while I still have them.
13. Go to the Texas state fair
As embarrassed as I am by this bucket list item, it might be the most necessary. I haven’t had the chance to really experience the Texas state fair but I know I need to. Everyone always talks about the outlandish food and different exhibits. No matter how busy I might think I am, I’m going this fall.
14. Recognize what I have before it's gone
Much like the 12th item on my list, this one is all about realizing the important people in my life and not taking them for granted.It might sound cliche, but no one has to be your friend, no one is entitled to anything and I don’t want to leave SMU wondering if there was something more I could have done to stay in touch with people that truly matter to me.
This next year is truly about having no regrets. I cannot imagine a worse feeling than looking back in 10 or 15 years wondering if I would have enjoyed something more if I had done something different. This years motto is “have no regrets” and I truly plan on having none.
