Fellow rising seniors, it’s time. It’s time to accept the fact that we are going to be graduating in one year. As I saw my older friends posing with their caps and gowns this past month on Facebook, I was excited and happy for them- excited that my friends will be moving on to bigger things and happy because of graduation parties! However, it’s one thing to see this feat of graduation in the abstract and another to see your own time nearing as the months go by.
Where did the time go? Did I use my time as an undergraduate productively? Wasn’t high school graduation just yesterday? Did I try my best? Could I have done something more?
These are all questions that I’ve been asking myself this year. It’s daunting- the idea of leaving an environment we’ve come to grow so accustomed to. For example, having a schedule and classes that can guide you on a day-to-day basis, which as a general layout for every semester makes routine adulthood so much easier to deal with.
The friends that I have made in these spaces have allowed me to understand that it’s okay to disagree with people, and as long as there is still respect and understanding, one can still coexist.
The pressures of finding a full-time job to sustainably live on your own in the future are scary. To be thrown off this equilibrium of a security net that is your college of nearly four years is scary. This, added to the pressure facing new graduates now that “a bachelor’s degree is now equivalent to what a high school degree used to be” to find a job, undoubtedly makes us worried as well. Just the thought of applying to graduate school is exhausting.
I know it’s scary. However, it’s important to utilize the lessons that we have learned in the past three years to help us overcome these obstacles. The people we surround ourselves with, our networks, and the relationships we uphold whether it be with colleagues, friends or family members, are some of the most important factors to succeed in adulthood from what I’ve observed. Certainly, it’s much easier said than done, but what is going to happen if we just give up hope? We’ve come this far and the fact of the matter is that the end of our undergraduate career is nearing.
The first step is to accept it. The years aren’t going to rewind back to when we still had baby faces in high school. Enjoy every moment before starting your senior year as much as you can. Use every resource that your college offers to make the most out of your college experience.
The second step is to take a deep breath. Whether you have to decide on taking some time off from school, find a job, or applying to graduate school, it is vital to take care of yourself.
It isn’t an easy transition for many of us. Remember that you don't have to have everything planned out and it's not the end of the world if you don't have plans; I'm in the same boat as you.
Do your favorite things this summer. Dedicate some time to yourself and reflect on your past three years of schools and look over the experiences you have gone through. You might not have realized it, but you have probably changed immensely from the baby-faced incoming freshman you once were. Dedicate your time to those who you love. Life is comprised of moments and it’s important to make the most out of every moment. This summer is going to be one where we start to make plans for our future. Always have faith in yourself. You made it this far and the opportunities and the beginning of your life await you.
